Qatar's world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim in action during the men’s high jump event at the Doha Diamond League yesterday.
Doha is a popular destination among the global athletes for a good reason. The Qatari capital hosts the top-notch track and field competitions in a way that they are long remembered, bringing the best out of top stars.
It was the same last night, when Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium played host to the second meeting of the Diamond League 2021 as six world leads and three meeting records were set under lights in Doha.
Spectators were not present due to strict COVID-19 protocols but athletes still produced thrilling performances, with Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot, and America’s Katie Nageotte claiming memorable victories.
Ivanyuk wins in high jump, Barshim second
However, there was some disappointment for home fans glued to TVs to watch their own reigning world high jump champion Mutaz Barshim missing out the top spot in men’s high jump.
Russia’s Ilya Ivanyuk, competing as an authorised neutral athlete won the event, leaping 2.33m while Barshim, who was marking his 10th anniversary of Diamond League debut yesterday, took second position with a jump of 2.30.
Ukraine’s Andriy Protsenko (2.27m) finished third. The Qatari star, however, was satisfied with his performance. “It was good, not so good, but I’ ll say okay. My target is definitely Tokyo (Olympics) so I will be working for the next competition. My target for Tokyo is to win, not necessarily to break a record, but to win,” Barshim said.
Jamaica’s Fraser-Pryce, who won the world title in Doha two years ago, maintained her domination here to win the mouth-watering women’s 100m race. The twotime Olympic champion clocked season’s best of 10.84 to finish ahead of Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare (10.90) and America’s Javianne Oliver (11.03).
Kenya’s Cheruiyot, also a winner at World Championships in Doha, was expected to do big things yesterday and he didn’t disappoint his fans, winning the men’s 1500m with a world leading time of 3:30.48.
“I tell my fans thanks for always supporting me. It was a very good race, anyone could have won. My next focus is Monaco,” the Kenyan star said after the victory. Australia’s Stewart McSweyn was second with a time of 3:31.57 while Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali (3:31.95) took third position.
Another Kenyan star in Wyclife Kinyamal marked a world leading time of 1:43.91 to win a thrilling men’s 800m race. He was followed by compatriot Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich (1:44.45) and Daniel Rowden (1:44.60). America’s Michael Norman was also in sizzling form last night, winning the men’s 400m race with a world leading time of 44.27.
Michael Norman of the US poses with a world lead sign after winning the men’s 400m event.
“I didn’t do a good performance here in Doha before, and I am happy with the progress I have made. I want to give a lot of credits to my coach for everything he does for me, we are in the right path,” said Norman. Colombia’s Anthony José Zambrano was second in the race with a time of 44.57 while Fred Kerley (USA) clocked 44.60 to take third position.
Bejamin takes 400m hurdles title
The much-hyped men’s 400m hurdles race saw America’s Rai Bejamin emerging victorious with a time of 47.38, setting a meeting record. He outpaced Brazil’s Alison dos Santos (47.57), who finished second with British Virgin Islands’s Kyron McMaster (47.82) taking third position.
“It was a good and decent race, but not the best for me, I always try to do my best. Doha is warm so it is perfect for running. My next focus is NCCA in USA,” Bejamin said yesterday. Qatar’s World Championships bronze medalist Abderrahman Samba (48.26), finished fourth in the event.
Meanwhile, America’s Kenny Bednarek won the highly-anticipated men’s 200m race, setting the season’s best time of 19.88, defeating Canada’s Andre de Grasse (19.89) and Aaron Brown (20.25).
“I felt good, I was a bit nervous, but I am excited that I finished first. I will try to be even better again the next time,” said Bednarek. Also last night, Kenya’s Norah Jeruto captured the women’s steeplechase title in style after recording a world lead of 9:00.67, beating Ethiopia’s Mekides Abebe (9:02.52) and Winfred Mutile Yavi (9:02.64).
Another Kenyan women, Beatrice Chebet (8:27.49) also set a world lead to win women’s 3000m, soaring past Hellen Obiri in the final lap for her first ever Diamond League win. In women’s 800m, Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon clocked a season’s best time of 1:58.26 to claim the title ahead of Jamaican Natoya Goule (1:59.70) and Moroccan Rababe Arafi (1:59.83).
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica and Javianne Oliver of US compete at women’s 100m event.
Nageotte upsets stars in women’s pole vault
In a star-studded women’s pole vault that saw meeting records falling like flies, America’s Nageotte (USA) clinched the victory after edging compatriot Sandi Morris, clearing 4.84m in the first attempt for a world lead.
“You can expect anything in pole volt, I was ready to come in and jump. I wasn’t sure I was gonna win, but I knew I was ready. I am happy for that, I think I did pretty good tonight,” said Nageotte.
Morris reached the same height but in her second attempt, and had to content with second position. The third place went to Britain’s Holly Bradshaw (4.74m) as reigning world champion Anzhelika Sidorova (4.64m) – Authorised Neutral Athlete – finished seventh.
Cuba’s reigning Diamond League champion Yaimé Perez also picked maximum points with a win in women’s discus throw, clearing 63.75. America’s Valarie Allman (65.57) and Croatia’s Sandra Perkovic (CRO) 63.60 secured second and third positions respectively.
Another meeting record last night was set by Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas, who marked 15.15 to win women’s triple jump. Jamaican Kimberly Williams (14.69) was second while her compatriot Shanieka Ricketts (14.98) finished third. New Zealand’s Tomas Walsh collected victory in men’s shot put with a throw of 21.63.
Qatari sprinter Femi Ogunode (second left) on his way to win the men’s 100m race yesterday. Ogunode clocked a season’s best time of 10.00 which secured him a place in the Tokyo Olympics.
Qatar’s Ogunode seals Olympic spot
In the men’s 100m race – not part of Diamond League programme – Qatari sprinters dominated with Femi Ogunode blasting to victory with season’s best time of 10.00. Ogunode’s time also secured him the Tokyo Olympics spot.
Rising Qatari sprinter Owaab Barrow (10.46) finished third behind Chad’s Mahamat Goubaye Youssouf (10.26). Qatar’s star middle distance runner Musaeb Abdulrahman Balla took third position in men’s 800m, with Algeria’s Mohamed Ali Gouaned and Moroccan Mouad Zahafi taking the first two spots respectively.
Earlier, the men’s 400m B race was won by Zambia’s Kennedy Luchembe in 46.29, with Qatar’s Hussein Ibrahim Issaka finishing fourth with a personal best time of 48.10.
