15,000 fans were entertained, and surprised by some of the performances in Doha, Qatar this evening! Check your local Universal sports station to see when you can watch the meet this evening!

Eliud Kipchoge, 2011 Carlsbad, photo by PhotoRun.net

ALAMIREW IS THE NEW STAR

DOHA (QAT, May 6): Nearly full stadium 15 000
spectators (later spectators as usual left) saw excellent display of shape of
top athletes in the 2nd Samsung Diamond League opening meeting. In total in 11
(out of 17) events world leading marks and in 7 events new meeting records. The
best race of the evening was the men´s 3000 m with top times and superb depth. Also
some surprises were seen, specially in throws.

EVENT
BY EVENT OVERVIEW

MEN

200 m: Walter Dix makes it clear in last meters: 20.06 (+0.5) is a new
world lead and interestingly equalled the meet record. Second young Asian Games
winner Femi Ogunode clocked new national record for the home country 20.30.
Third Jaisuma Saidy Ndure of Norway
20.55.

800 m: Asbel Kiprop fulfills his role and wins in 1:44.74 (50.59,
1:17.18 splits). Briton Michael Rimmer excellent second 1:45.12 ahead of 2007
World Champ Alfred Kirwa Yego 1:45.17, Eurowinner Lewandowski 6th (1:46.42).

1500 m: In the only non-DL event world lead after superb last 100 m for Nixon Chepseba who
clocked WL 3:31.84. Last year world leader S. Kiplagat second 3:32.15 over
Ethiopian rival Gebremehdin Mekonnen (3:32.28).

3000 m: New Ethiopian star Yenew Alamirew with last 200 m kick wins in 7:27.26 MR
and WL, 17th fastest of all-time. Following new personal bests for Edwin Soi
7:27.55, Eliud Kipchoge 7:27.66 (multiple winner here, best third ever) and
Augustin Choge 7:28.76. In total 16 sub 7:40 what is also record, previous high
was 13.

400 m H: LJ Van Zyl confirms his superbs this years
shape with meet record 48.11. Cornel Fredericks
is also early in shape as second 48.43 and beats in close finish last year
Diamond Race winner Bershawn Jackson (48.44).

HJ: Jesse Williams achieved 233 in third as Cyprean Kyriacos Ioannou, who
is coming back from an injury. Meet record for both. Williams tried at 237 then
after passing 235. Third young home world junior champion Mutaz Essa Barshim
equalled his own national record with third attempt 231 clearance.

PV: German Malte Mohr beats a strong field with 581 second attempt
clearance, world lead and new meet record. He tried at 591 (PR height) three
times. European medalist Maksim Mazuryk second 570 and surprise for third Cuban
Lazaro Borges (560). Euro champ Lavillenie went over his first height 550 in second and then
missed 560 and was only fourth.

TJ: World indoor record holder Teddy Tamgho ruled here with two valid
attemps 17.49 (MR and WL, +1.0) and 17.44 (+1.3). Second and third way behind
Sands (17.09, +1.9) and former MR holder Copello (17.05, +1.0).

SP: World leader Dylan Armstorng wins with last throw 21.38 ahead of
Reese Hoffa 21.27 and Ryan Whiting 21.23. Top names beaten. World Champ 5th
(Cantwell 20.79) and Oly winner 6th (Majewski 20.68).

DT: Also here win in last round as birthday present for Gerd Kanter
(67.49 world lead). Second all-time vet Alekna (65.92) ahead of Spanish Casanas
(64.22). Eurowinner Malachowski 5th (63.59).

JT: Sensational win for Jan Zelezny coached Petr Frydrych (85.32 only
valid throw and missed WL by 1
cm). Also surprise second Oosthuizen of South Africa
84.38, third Pitkamäki 83.91 ahead of Makarov 83.78 and only fifth Thorkildsen
83.63.

WOMEN

200 m: LaShauntea Moore confirmed her favorite position with clear win
in 22.83 (+0.3).

400 m: Allyson Felix gets it in world lead 50.33, but African Champ
Amantle Montsho was close 50.41.

1500 m: Another surprise of the evening with Ukrainian Anna Mishchenko
beating Africans in 4:03.00 world lead. Unexpected names followed, Kenyan Irene
Jelagat 4:04.89 and Moroccan Siham Hilali 4:05.18.

100 m H: Kellie Wells gets it in 12.58 (+1.3) after
slow starting reaction (0.208). Second Danielle Carruthers in third fastest of
the career 12.64 ahead of Lolo Jones 12.67.

SC: Milcah Chemos wins in WL and MR 9:16.44 but had a tight fight with
Mercy Njoroge who improved to 9:16.94. Third under 9:20 is Lydia Rotich
9:19.20.

LJ: US Funmi Jimoh in first round 688 (+1.6) world lead and it was
enough, but behind her interesting battle. Oly winner Maggi 687 (+1.5) ahead of
Russians Nazarova (677, +1.2) and Kotova (674, +2.0).

UPDATES FROM KINGSTON: CARTER FOR 200 M

KINGSTON (JAM): Latest updates from Jamaica
Invitational start list are the last year co-world leader at 100 m Nesta Carter runs the
longer sprint (200 m)
and not the shorter one. European champion Andy Turner runs the 110 m hurdles as one of the
few Europeans in the meet. The Jamaican world class 400 m runner Shericka
Williams is running the 200 m,
not one lap. Trinidad´s Berlin bronze winner at 400 m Hurdles Josanne Lucas
is out because of an injury. In the men´s 800 m top favorites are US runners
Duane Solomon with Khadevis Robinson. In the women 100 m hurdles world medalist
Deloreen Ennis is the top name and in the long jump trio of US athletes Janay
DeLoach, Brianna Glenn and heptathlete Hyleas Fountain. Former world champion
Trecia Smith is the star of the triple jump.

OTHER NEWS

LAUSANNE (SUI): April has always been a transitional
month for European athletics as many major cities experience the thrill of
thousands of runners running major marathons while the track & field season
kicks off in earnest, albeit mainly in the USA. Following this, European
Athletics is pleased to announce that the nominations for the European Athlete
of the Month for April represents eight countries. The voting will close on
Friday 20 May at noon CET.

PRAGUE (CZE): If Lydia Cheromei can combine her own
considerable resources with following the example of her training partner, then
the course record in Sunday’s Volkswagen Prague Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label
race will under severe threat. A world champion at 13, and now a mother and one
of the world’s best women marathoners, Cheromei already shattered the course
record for the half-marathon in Prague
five weeks ago. “Mary Keitany won London
in 2:19:19 and she is my training partner, this boosts my morale and I know I
can run well like her. I don’t know if I can run 2:19 or under 2:20 but I’m
hoping to run well.” Her PB is 2:23:01 from Dubai this January. The women’s course record
is held by Helena Kirop of Kenya
with a fine 2:25:29 last year. Also top contenders the Ethiopian Yeshimebet
Tadesse with 2:27:45 in Dubai last year and aiming to break 2:30 and better are
a string of athletes, including the Namibian record holder Helalia Johannes
while South Africa’s Rene Kalmer, holder of 32 national records, runs her first
competitive marathon with a view to winning selection for the World
Championships in Daegu in August. Whereas the women’s race looks a foregone
conclusion barring accidents, the men’s race is wide open. Making the
transition from high quality road racer over the shorter distances to the
marathon is a leap of faith, but Sammy Kosgei is quietly confident that his
achievements so far, including a world record for 25km in Berlin in May 2010, will stand him in good
stead for his competitive marathon debut. There will certainly be strong
opposition and the fastest man in the field is last year’s runner-up, Yemane
Tsegay. The Ethiopian has run 2:06:30, for fourth place in Paris in 2009, one
of three men in the field with sub 2:08 performances. In terms of championship
performance, he has the best pedigree of the men’s field with fourth place at
the 2009 World Championship marathon in Berlin.
Writes Andy Edwards in a release.

DUSSELDORF (GER): Strong Africans, European hopes plus a
much anticipated debut by Germany’s
Jan Fitschen, that means the Sunday’s METRO Group Marathon
Duesseldorf has quite something to offer. While Africans will chase both course
records Austria’s Günther
Weidlinger and Russia’s
defending champion Natalya Volgina hope to be among the leading finishers.
Meanwhile Jan Fitschen goes for a sub 2:15 debut marathon. High temperatures
and a possible wind could harm performances on Sunday. Adding other running
events the race has around 14,000 entries. Three runners feature personal bests
of sub 2:10: Stephen Kiogora (Kenya/2:08:24), Chala Lemi (Ethiopia/2:08:49) and
Jonathan Yego (Kenya/2:09:57). The course record established by Iaroslav
Musinschi of Moldova
in 2010 stands at 2:08:32, it was also European best of the last year. There
are three women entered with personal bests of sub 2:30. Merima Mohammed is the
big favourite. Still only 18 years old the Ethiopian clocked 2:23:06 in Toronto in 2010, where
she finished third. Mohammed will have a go at the six year-old course record
held by Germany’s Luminita Zaituc (2:26:44). Among her strongest rivals there
will be Leah Malot (Kenya/personal best: 2:29:17) and defending champion Natalya
Volgina (2:27:32). „My aim is to reach a personal best and finish inside the
top three,” said Natalya Volgina.