by Alfonz Juck
The Incredible Legacy, photo from Qatar Olympic Committee
Here’s the preview of the Doha DL meeting, the 9th year of this fine event. Preview courtesy of Alfons Juck, our friend at EME News.
Barshim and Samba for home wins
DOHA (QAT): The 9th season of IAAF Diamond League starts on Friday as usual in Doha, Qatar in the Qatar Sports Club Stadium. In total 15 events (including 2 non DL´s) are planned with highlights for home fans in high jump with Mutaz Essa Barshim and 400 m hurdles with Abderrahman Samba. Great clashes of full World elite are expected in technical events. Women´s 100 m hurdles and 100 m are beeing the sprint highlights. As usual at the beginning of the season several World leads are expected. In total 17 World and Olympic winners are competing. The new rules for scoring which started in 2017 remain unchanged in 2018. Diamond League also prepares for new era starting from 2020.
Event by event short previews
Men
200 m: World champion Ramil Guliyev opens his season against recently crowned Commonwealth champion Jereem Richards, Olympic medalist Andre de Grasse and Diamond League winner Noah Lyles. Omar McLeod makes his DL debut at the distance.
400 m: Recently crowned Commonwealth champion Isaac Makwala faces world silver medallist Steven Gardiner from the Bahamas who runs his first 400m of the season after some very fast times over 200m. Can they go sub 44 seconds?
800 m: Line-up includes world silver and bronze medallists Adam Kszczot from Poland and Kipyegon Bett from Kenya as well as US-based Emmanuel Korir who clocked 1:44.21 indoors this season. World champ Elijah Manangoi also runs.
1500 m (non-DL): Experienced Moroccan Abdelaati Iguider is the fastest with a 3:28.79 PB. World U18 champion George Manangoi makes his Diamond League debut.
400 m H: Diamond League winner Kyron McMaster arrives fresh from winning at the Commonwealth Games but home favourite Abderrahman Samba leads the world lists with a recent 47.90 PB. Olympic champion Kerron Clement and European champion Yasmani Copello will open their seasons too.
3000 m SC (non-DL): Hillary Yego is the fastest on paper with a PB of 8:03.57.
HJ: Mutaz Essa Barshim will be looking to deliver a winning performance on home soil in season opener. World lead 232 should go.
TJ: Christian Taylor faces his long-time rival Pedro Pablo Pichardo. Are they in shape to repeat the great duel from 2015?
JT: Another head-to-head between world champion Johannes Vetter and Olympic champion Thomas Rohler who won here last year with a DL record and PB of 93.90.
Women
100 m: Excellent line-up includes Olympic champion Elaine Thompson against world indoor champion Murielle Ahoure, double world silver medallist Marie Josee Ta-Lou and two-time world 200m champion Dafne Schippers. Blessing Okagbare, who recently ran a wind-aided 10.72, also competes. World lead 10.98 will be broken.
1500 m: Caster Semenya should begin as the favourite in her secondary event (still World leader here) and aim to go sub 4.
3000 m: World 5000m champion Hellen Obiri holds the meeting record at 8:20.68. Will Jenny Simpson get close to the US record of 8:25.83 after her fast 2 miles at Drake?
100 m H: Olympic champion Brianna McNeal leads the world lists with 12.43, although world record-holder Kendra Harrison has run wind-assisted marks of 12.40 and 12.37 already in 2018.
PV: Reigning world indoor champion Sandi Morris (already some meets) goes head-to-head again with reigning world and Olympic champion Ekaterini Stefanidi who opens the season.
DT: Sandra Perkovic begins as the favourite although she could be challenged by former world champion Dani Stevens who won the Commonwealth title with 68.26m. And both Cubans also there.
