2019 Doha DL Diary: Official DL Presser on 3 May 2019, emceed by Steve Cram, with Seb Coe, Tom Walsh, Dina Asher-Smith, Sam Kendricks, Sharika Nelvis,

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Tomas Walsh, Doha 2019 DL Presser, photo by Jiro Mochizuki, for IAAF Diamond League (copyrigh 2019 by Jiro Mochizuki)

Tianna Bartoletta, Doha 2019 DL Presser, 3 May 2019, photo by Jiro Mochizuki, for IAAF Diamond League (copyrigh 2019 by Jiro Mochizuki)

The main presser at DL events is a litmus test for the media. There are the prepared statements of sponsors and federations, and some relaxed comments by the top athletes, emcee and of course IAAF Prez Seb Coe.

Seb Coe stayed on message, keeping the comments on Doha DL, and gently, but firmly discounting questions on the CAS decision, Doha World Champs.

Dina Asher-Smith is opening early for the Briton. After her double wins at 100m/200m in the 2018 European Outdoor Champs, Dina is quite the item in British media, including commercial sponsorships and fashion media. Since I met her 2014, Dina has always been quite relaxed with the media and willingly answers questions.

Sam Kendricks spoke about his friend, Mondo Duplantis, who just jumped 5.94m, and Sam’s 5.90m. Sam is one of the most quoteable athletes and he loves competitions.

Tianna Bartoletta spoke about elongating the season, with a U.S. Trials 3 months from Doha DL (May 3-end of July), and build a better strength base. Tianna is eminently quotable and a real joy to interview.

more notes on Presser

Steve Cram, Emcee, Doha 2019 DL Presser, 3 May 2019, photo by Jiro Mochizuki, for IAAF Diamond League (copyrigh 2019 by Jiro Mochizuki)

Tianna Bartoletta, Dina Asher-Smith, Doha 2019 DL Presser, 3 May 2019, photo by Jiro Mochizuki, for IAAF Diamond League (copyrigh 2019 by Jiro Mochizuki)

Sam Kendricks, Doha 2019 DL Presser, 3 May 2019, photo by Jiro Mochizuki, for IAAF Diamond League (copyrigh 2019 by Jiro Mochizuki)

A very nice comment by Seb Coe on the CAS ruling. I did find the BBC question comparing differences to having longer arms similar to sexual differences as quite disengenuous. The survival of women’s sports is on the line. I admire Caster Semenya, but her advantage is much more complicated than having longer arms or legs.

Sharika Nelvis noted how tough the 100m hurdles is to make the US team. It may be the toughest event to make on the US women’s team!

Enjoy the entire presser, managed well by Mr. Cram. If you watch closely, Stuart Weir, who writes much for @runblogrun, asked a fine question of Tianna Bartoletta. Our dear friend, Franco Fava, asked a good question on Doha 2019, and it was avoided. It would be nice if Doha 2019 LOC would address rumors of budget issues, little marketing of event and none in US, among other issues.

Thanks to Matt Quine and his team on the fine quality of the streaming today!

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself."

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