byStuart WeirFerguson Rotich 1:44.16, 800m, photo 4,
25 September 2020, Doha Diamond league, Doha, Qatar, photos via BBCTV by @stuartweir, @britathletics, #europeanathletics, #theshoeaddicts, #runblogrun, @diamond_league, @worldathletics, pic.twitter.com/lwyXDgfCgr— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) September 25, 2020
In this column, Stuart Weir writes about the mixed performances by Brits in Doha. In the above tweet, you can see Elliot Giles en route to his PB 1:44.56.
In the tweet below, you can see Laura Weightman, who took seventh in the 3000m in 8:26.31 (she’s in center), just .25 behind her PB.
Hellen Obiri takes the 3000m in 8:22.54, photo 2,
25 September 2020, Doha Diamond league, Doha, Qatar, photos via BBCTV by @stuartweir, @britathletics, #europeanathletics, #theshoeaddicts, #runblogrun, @diamond_league, @worldathletics, pic.twitter.com/zIK2DejMmx— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) September 25, 2020
Brits in action
There were 16 British athletes in action at the Doha Diamond League, with mixed fortunes.
The performance of the night was a PR for Elliot Giles, to take second place in the 800m (1:44.56). Guy Learmonth was sixth in the same race in 1:46.25. The delighted Giles commented: “I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s gone from expecting to have no races to running here in 40-degree heat. It’s a great way to wrap up the season. And next year? The sky’s the limit.”
Elliot Giles takes second in the 800m, in PB, 1:44.56, photo by Stuart Weir via BBC TV
Two British athletes ran PRs in the 1500 – James West fifth 3:34.07 and Piers Copeland eighth 3:35.32. Adelle Tracey ran an excellent race for third in the women’s 800m, finishing in 1:59.87 – just one hundredth of a second outside her PR. Shelayna Oskan-Clarke was eighth in 2:02.22.
The Call room, just prior to the 3000m, photo by Stuart Weir via BBC TV
There were three British women in the 3000m race. Laura Weightman finished seventh in 8:26.31, a quarter of a second outside her PR. Weightman, who struggles to know whether 1500m or 5000m is her best distance, told me last year that she would love 3000m to be in a championship race. Elish McColgan, whose mother Liz lives in Doha was 12th (8:44.88) and Melissa Courtney-Bryant took fourteenth place with 8:55.11.
Rabah Yousif who was running his eleventh 400m race in six weeks – in six different countries – was fifth in 46.46.
Cameron Fillery was fifth in the 110m hurdes in 11.76 and David King third in 13.54, while Cindy Ofili was third in the 100m hurdles in 13.54.
Kristal Awuah, photo by Stuart Weir via BBC TV
Kristal Awuah finished fourth in the 100m in 11.27 and Amy Hunt sixth in 11.43 Hunt commented on Twitter: “and just like that my 2020 season is over. Had an incredible experience at my first Diamond League to finish what has been a hectic and at times frustrating year”. As well as gaining a place at Cambridge University the 18 year old has run in USA, Switzerland, Poland, Sweden and Qatar this year
Harry Coppell, whose British record eight of 5.85 – secured earlier this month, would have won tonight’s competition – recorded no mark.
