by Larry Eder
DOHA (QAT, May 10): Qatari Diamond League “Seashore Doha Meeting” in nice warm weather, good crowd but sometimes too-strong wind showed four world leads by Dos Santos, Bednarek, Chebet, and Firewu, and three meeting records (5000, 200, 400H). Visitors watched close duels in sprints, javelin, and steeplechase. Maiden Diamond league victories for Kambundji, Topic, Caudery, Komen, Firewu, and McLeod. The next Wanda Diamond League stage is in Marrakech on May 19.
Short reviews by event
Women
100m: Neita won in European lead 10.98 (2.0) in a close finish over Davis (10.99).
800m: Moraa did not keep the fast pace (56.57), but won comfortably in world outdoor lead 1:57.91 ahead of Jemma Reekie (1:58.42 EL).
1500m: Hailu took the lead very early and won a solo race in 4:00.42 ahead of powerfully finishing Hull (4:00.84), Bell sixth (4:03.72) as the best European.
5000m: Chebet accelerated with 250m to go and won in the world lead at 14:26.98, clearly outperforming Ethiopians (second Taye in 14:29.26) who occupied places 2-8 (all sub-15:00).
100m hurdles: Surprising win for Kambundji in European lead of 12.49 (1.7) ahead of Marshall (12.51) and Skrzyszowska (12.53).
High jump: This was the first big (senior) victory for Topic, who was still only 18 years Old. With 194 (and some nice attempts at 198), Topic took the European outdoor lead over Gerashchenko and Patterson (both 191).
Pole vault: Caudery won over Kennedy on countback, clearing 473 (world outdoor lead); everything was decided by a single failure of the World co-champion on 453.
Men
200m: Bednarek’s excellent performance confirmed his Olympic ambitions with a world lead, meeting record, and personal best of 19.67 (1.7). Lindsey was a distant second (20.01).
400m: Gardiner won comfortably in 44.76, second Samukonga (45.07), world leader Ndori finished only sixth.
1500m: In a Kenya-only finish, surprisingly dominated Komen in 3:32.43 ahead of Timothy Cheruiyot (3:32.67), Nordås only sixth behind Nader (3:33.50 EL).
3000m steeplechase: Surprise of the day? Firewu, with a great finish, won in world-leading and PB 8:07.25 over Kibiwot (8:07.38). Kenya’s steeplechase struggles continue, with sixth Arce (8:16.43 EL).
400m hurdles: What a race of Dos Santos in 46.86, world lead and meeting record, his best since 2022 World title, Allen finished second (48.39).
Long jump: In an extremely windy competition with only five attempts with regular wind, McLeod won with 852w (5.2) over Tentoglou, who took advantage of the slower wind in the final series and leaped to 836 (1.9), the world outdoor lead.
Discus (non-DL): Denny led from the first series (69.02), but Ceh was gradually improving and surpassed him in fourth with a 70-metre attempt (70.48) in his outdoor opener.
Javelin: Long throws at
