byLarry Eder
Blanka Vlasic will be one of the featured stars in Doha tomorrow, Friday, May 8…(photo by Photorun.net)
DOHA EVENT-BY-EVENT PREVIEW
DOHA: Hot weather is fore casted for Friday´s first this years IAAF Super Grand Prix, the Qatar meet in Doha. Here short event by event preview, about 10 world leads could be realistic out of 18 events, also added by about 2-3 meet records.
Men
100 m: Two Olympic relay winners Carter and Frater against in-form Briton Devonish and what is the shape of Asian record holder and home star Francis?
800 m: World lead a must in duel of Asbel Kiprop vs. David Rudisha vs. Abubaker Kaki.
1500 m: Haron Keitany was unbeaten indoors, can he continue with this? Another world lead for sure.
3000 m: Return of Shaheen is the title, but the win will most probably go to Abreham Cherkos or Eliud Kipchoge who are fast finishers. World lead again.
Steeple: Paul Kipsiele Koech and his another revenge over Olympic winner Brimin Kipruto. No question, another world lead.
110mH: David Oliver should improve his own world lead 13.19 and think about last year when he clocked here his PB 12.95.
Triple: Olympic medalist Leevan Sands against Brazilian star Jadel Gregorio. But that is on paper, could be totally different.
Shot: Olympic winner Tomasz Majewski opens the season against two US stars (Hoffa, Nelson), the third did not come (Cantwell).
Javelin: Another Olympic gold medalist Andreas Thorkildsen achieved here 90+ in 2006, another world lead is clear. What is the shape of former champion Makarov?
Women
100 m: Another world lead after Kingston for Kerron Stewart?
400 m: Allyson Felix in her first individual race of the year goes for hattrick at one lap here after wins in 2007 and 2008. A better time than current WL 50.99 should be no problem.
1500 m: Great depth in this race with two Olympic medalists (Lagat, Lishchinska), always fast Burka, coming from other events (shorter Jepkosgei, longer Melkamu, V. Cheruiyot) and world junior champion Twell. World lead again.
Steeple: Fifth and sixth from Beijing (Bosibori, Casandra) or Ethopians? First sub 9:30 of the year.
100mH: Damu Cherry leads the yearly lists and should win, although in the field also Olympic medalist Lopes-Schliep.
High: Blanka Vlasic in her first meet since Torino disaster. More than world leading 192 is for sure.
Pole: European Indoor Champion Russian Yulia Golubchikova and the best should be more than number one mark of 2009 455 cm.
Long: Olympic gold medalist Maurren Higa Maggi vs. World indoor champion Naide Gomes, but surprise can come from in-shape Brittney Reese.
Hammer: Slovak record holder Martina Hrasnova is the favorite, depends how healed is the back injury of world leader Anita Wlodarczyk.
Special thanks to Alfons Juck, EME News.
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