FROM LEFT: Nesta Carter of Jamaica, Justin Gatlin of USA and compatriot Michael Radgers during the Men’s 100m race at the IAAF Diamond League 2013 Doha Meeting at Qatar Sports Club Stadium yesterday.
BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Former Olympic champion Justin Gatlin of the US yesterday clocked a season-best time of 9.97 seconds to win the 100m final while world record holder David Rudisha of Kenya smoked the competition in the 800m race at the Diamond League opener.
Also yesterday, Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim delighted the home fans by finishing second in the high jump behind winner Bohdan Bondarenko of Ukraine. Russia’s Aleksander Shustov finished in third place.
Gatlin, the London Games bronze medallist, won the feature race of the evening ahead of compatriot Michael Rodgers, who finished with an impressive 9.99 seconds. Jamaica’s Nesta Carter also ended with 9.99 to seal the third season-best time in the race.
“I am pleased with my win. I have always done well here,” a delighted Gatlin said. “What I am looking at this season is to run some quality races ahead of the world championships.”
“I have not decided how many races I would do this season,” the 31-year-old added. “I am not looking at my age. I am just trying to train well,” the American pointed out.
Also yesterday at Qatar Sports Club Stadium, Rudisha, the London Olympic Games gold medallist, won the 800m race by outpacing chief rival Mohammed Aman.
Rudisha, who created the world record in London last year, sealed the deal on a barmy night with a time of 1:43.87, the best time by any athlete this year.
Aman, the 19-year-old Ethiopian, clocked a time of 1:44.21 to grab the silver.
Job Kinyor of Kenya was third with a time of 1:44.24.
After shadowing Aman for the first 400m, Rudisha broke free of the lot in the last 200m, racing to the finish line calmly.
“It was excellent running,” Rudisha said after his win.
“I am happy with the way I timed my run. I knew I could keep back at the first half and I did that,” the Kenyan said.
“This sets me up nicely for the rest of the season. I think I can improve my time as the season goes on,” he added. “I liked running here in Doha. The crowd was just fantastic.”
Aman said: “I did not want to stay behind Rudisha. I tried to pass him but I could not. The race was not that fast but it is still the start of the season. It was my first race. Next stop for me will the Eugene Diamond League.”
In the 400m hurdles, athletes Michael Tinsley and Bershawn Jackson made it an American one-two with a powerful run. Tinsely, who celebrated his 29th birthday last month, notched the gold with a time of 48.92 seconds.
Jackson clocked a time of 49.12 seconds to pick up the silver while South Africa’s Cornel Fredericks (49.35 seconds) won the bronze medal.
“I feel confident. I made a few mistakes as the race wasn’t that fast,” Tinsley said.
“I have New York next for the Diamond League. I want to make it to the US Team first before I start thinking about the Moscow World Championships,” he added.
Jackson said: “I suffered an injury recently so I am happy with my performance today. Now I am going back for more training and hopefully I will be ready for the summer competitions.”
In the 1500m final, Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop produced the world leading time of 3:31.13 to seal the win. Kiprop, 23, finished ahead of compatriot Bethwell Birgen (3:31.90) and Djibouti’s Ayanleh Souleiman (3:32.59).
“It was a good race and I have the world lead at the moment and that feels fine,” Kiprop said. “I liked the stadium a lot ... fantastic crowd, cheering and shouting. I want to say thank you to the fans,” he added.
In the intense high jump final, Bondrarenko touched a height of 2.33m on his seventh and final attempt for victory.
Qatar’s Barshim - the bronze medallist at the London Games last year - managed a height of 2.30m, his season’s best.
Third-placed Shustov also impressed with his jump of 2.27m. In the men’s shot put, American Ryan Whiting picked up the gold with a meet record and world leading distance.
The second leg of the Diamond League will be held in Shanghai next week.
THE PENINSULA
