by Larry EderThe first Samsung DL meeting of the year, Doha, was a great opening for the season! Not only was there fast races, but just some great competitive events!
Allyson Felix, photo by PhotoRun.net
Great races in Qatar
DOHA (QAT, May 11): 10 world leads and 7 meet records (out of 19 events) was the excellent
summary after the first Samsung Diamond League meet of the year 2012.
Qatar Sports Club offered great warm weather, good wind conditions which
went down nearly to zero during the evening and Ethiopian supporters.
The stadium was full by more than half but even the announced concert
afterwards did not help to have it full. That is Qatar. But Athletes
showed fireworks and excellent readiness at the beginning of the Olympic
season. Men´s 1500 m and steeple were the most high quality races of
the evening. Merritt, Rudisha, Jelimo, Dix great display of the shape.
Gatlin is back and duel of the evening was Vivian vs. Meseret. Next SDL
meet is on Saturday May 19 in Shanghai, China.
EVENT BY EVENT REVIEW
MEN
100 m: Justin Gatlin is back, he won in 9.87 (+0.4), his second fastest
legal time (and fastest by US sprinter before May 15). With strong
finish he beat Asafa Powell who also opened his season on a high note
with 9.88 (his 76th legal sub 10). Third Lerone Clarke equaled his PB
9.99. This was non DL race.
200: Walter Dix fulfilled his role with easy looking 20.02 (-0.5) meet
record. Behind him European runners Martina (20.26) and Ndure (20.34).
400: Oly winner LaShawn Merritt is in top shape and despite feeling sick
in the morning clocked impressive world lead and meet record 44.19.
Second Luguelin Santos (still a junior) went sub 45 with 44.88 for first
time non-altitude. Third Taylor 44.97 and fourth Rooney 44.99 also sub
45.
800 m: David Rudisha in good solo (600 1:16.70) clocked world lead
1:43.10. Second Job Kinyor improved to 1:43.76 and also fast times and
PB´s for European runners (Osagie, Bube, Holusa). Non DL-race.
1500 m: One of the top races of the evening. Silas Kiplagat world lead
and meet record 3:29.63 ahead of World champion Asbel Kiprop who finally
dipped under 3:30 (3:29.78, 21st sub 3:30 runner) despite stumbling at
the beginning of the final straight. Eleven runners went under 3:34
(among them also new Asian junior record by Hamza Driouch of Qatar
3:33.69).
3000 m: Augustine Choge with long finish won in world leading 7:30.42
ahead of Eliud Kipchoge 7:31.40 and Ugandan Moses Kipsiro 7:31.88. King
was beaten, Kenenisa Bekele 7th in 7:40.00. This was the third non
DL-race.
Steeple: Here it was not expected, but top two went sub 8 minutes. Paul
Kipsiele Koech 7:56.58 meet record and world lead (fastest in May and
his 8th sub 8) ahead of Richard Mateelong 7:56.81 PB (10th sub 8 runner
ever). Gari Roba clocked as third 8:06.16 new Ethiopian record. Junior
Conseslus Kipruto improved as 5th to 8:08.92 (oly winner Kipruto only
12th).
HJ: World indoor champ Hondrokoukis cleared 232 in second and equaled so
the world lead. World champion Jesse Williams second with French
Mickael Hanany third (both 230).
LJ: Russian Aleksandr Menkov after 3 fouls surprised everybody with
fourth leap 822 (+1.6) and enough to win. Until then leading was Mokoena
of South Africa 810 (twice and 808).
DT: From elite only world champ Harting was missing and this very
important win went to European champion Piotr Malachowski who got 67.53
right with first throw. Following order (Hadadi, Kovago, Kanter,
Harradine) could be mixed in another way next time.
WOMEN
100 m: Long legs of Allyson Felix were one small step ahead of VCB.
Felix clocked 10.92 (+0.7) MR and PB, second VCB opened her season with
10.94. Third oly winner Fraser-Pryce 11.00 and surprise fourth Nigerian
former long jump specialist Okagbare 11.01.
800 m: Olympic gold medalist Pamela Jelimo won with strong finish in
fastest ever before May 15 and her best since 2008 1:56.94 (also WL and
MR). Second surprise and Ethiopian record Fantu Magiso in her first
senior year 1:57.90. In total 7 went under 2 minutes.
3000 m: Slow begin (3:01, 5:55 splits) and super fast ending. Vivian
Cheruiyot in furious sprint resisted Meseret Defar and won in 8:46.44 WL
over 8:46.49.
100mH: BFH continues in winning after Kingston in grace and style 12.60
(+0.1) over Kellie Wells 12.72. PLS stumbled and was 6th (12.95).
400mH: Another Beijing winner Melaine Walker clocked world leading 54.62
with strong second half of the race ahead of team-mate Spencer 54.99
and fast beginner PSD (55.25).
PV: Surprise winner Russian Anastasiya Savchenko with 457 in first (her
previous outdoor best was 440) over meet record holder Spiegelburg 457
in second.
TJ: Olga Rypakova won the event with average 14.33 over Brazilian Keila Costa 14.31.
SP: European champion Ostapchuk started superb in first throw 20.53 meet
record and second best of the year. Camarena-Williams saved second
place with last throw (19.81) over German Kleinert (19.67).
JT: Spotakova had four solid throws but was second 66.17 as Abakumova
exploded in round 3 to 66.86 world lead. Third Obergfoll 64.59.
OTHER NEWS
PRAHA (CZE): The adviser of Juventus president, ex-football star and
Gold Balloon winner 2003 for the best football player in Europe Pavel
Nedvěd flew to Prague on Friday afternoon to run at his first marathon
ever. “I have never run more than 30 kilometers. I can not say, whether I
will manage it. My dream and goal is to finish it, even if I should
crawl to the finish line. As you know me” , he said.
BAD LANGENSALZA (GER): Swedish Star Carolina Kluft signed for long jump meet in Bad Langensalza in Germany on June 3.
LONDON (GBR): UK media are informing that Usain Bolt documentary will be
released in July. The film, entitled The Greatest, was made by French
director Gael Leiblang after he met the Olympic star in 2008. After
filming the athlete during that year, Leiblang sent him a DVD and Bolt’s
appreciation led to him allowing Leiblang unprecedented access of the
triple Olympic gold medallist over 60 days during an 18-month period.
RESULTS
PRAHA (CZE, May 11): At local open meet Jiri Vojtik clocked 33.52 in the
300 m, Josef Prorok was second 33.55 and won the 300 m hurdles (36.04).
400 m national indoor record holder Pavel Maslak won the 500 m in good
1:01.98. Roman Sebrle competed for first time with 35.79 at 300 m, 15.23
in shot and 45.99 discus.
