by Alfonz Juck
The Doha DL 2017 meeting should be a fantastic event! The rivalries and duels should be intense in the warm atmosphere of Doha. I have come to this meet for several years, and love the event. It is also a time to catch up on the best track gossip and goings on in the sport. Here are the previews from EME News, our partner, on the Doha Diamond League!
Start into new era, top duel Schippers vs Thompson
DOHA (QAT): 8th edition of IAAF Diamond League starts as every year in Qatar Sports Club on Friday. But this year with the biggest changes in the format of the circuit. Some events will be staged only 4 times, qualification for the finals will be based strictly on points and the finals will start from scratch. Technical events are back to top 8 having 6 attempts and prize money in the finals will be for top 8. Doha headlines in depth men 100 m and women 800 m, top duel Schippers vs Thompson in the 200 m and top local star Barshim in high jump. Several World leads expected.
Event by Event Short Previews
MEN
100m – Asafa Powell is looking for another sub-10 clocking but Justin Gatlin and Andre de Grasse are set to open their individual seasons. Akani Simbine has been in excellent form in South Africa. Dark horse Ronnie Baker.
400m – LaShawn Merritt is in the line-up but Steven Gardiner is the in-form athlete with a 44.26 world-lead.
1500m – World silver medallist Elijah Manangoi is the arguable favourite in deep field with usual participant Asbel Kiprop absent. World lead should go (3:35.99).
3000m – Line-up includes Rio silver medallist Paul Chelimo, world indoor champion Yomif Kejelcha, world silver medallist Caleb Ndiku and Olympic steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto. WL for sure.
400mH (non-DL) – World champion Nicholas Bett and Olympic champion Kerron Clement are set to clash but watch out for Qatari new find Abderrahaman Samba who holds the world-lead at 48.31.
High jump – Mutaz Essa Barshim has already cleared 2.35m this year and is the favourite on home soil.
Triple jump – Christian Taylor has already jumped 17.26m and is the favourite. Can he go over 17.40 World lead?
Javelin – Olympic champion Thomas Rohler and world champion Julius Yego will open their seasons in Doha. Jakub Vadlejch is the top entrant with a 85.71m season’s best and Diamond Trophy winner 2016.
WOMEN
200m – Elaine Thompson and Dafne Schippers are already in excellent form and will have a rematch of the last two major championships. Schippers leads in head-to-heads 4:2, but Thompson won last two. Sub 22? Also MR 21.98 under threat.
800m – Race of the night? All three medallists from Rio (Semenya, Niyonsaba, Wambui) will be competing while Genzebe Dibaba makes her debut at the distance. WL for sure.
Steeplechase – Top three from Rio (Jebet, Kiyeng, Coburn) all in action along with former Olympic champion Habiba Ghribi and European champion Gesa-Felicitas Krause. WL for sure, MR nearly so.
100m hurdles – World record-holder Keni Harrison is unbeaten since the Olympic Trials and leads the world rankings with 12.56.
Pole vault – Olympic rematch anticipated with Ekaterini Stefanidi and Sandi Morris in action. World champion Yarisley Silva also competes along with Canada’s Alysha Newman, who has cleared 4.71m this year. Interestingly 483 is WL and MR.
Shot put – Olympic champion Michelle Carter faces in-form Anita Marton who leads the world rankings with 19.63m
