by Larry EderFor most of the last decade, I was in California in late March, to visit my family and enjoy the Stanford Invitational, then the Payton Jordan Invite, then, Doha Diamond League.
I had first visited Doha, Qatar in 2010 for the World Indoor Championships and loved the culture, the exciting meet, and noted that I wanted to go back. Since 2011, I believe that I have visited 8 times.
The athletes come in fit and the facility welcomes them with warm weather and huge competition.
This is a little about why I love the Doha Diamond League.
Doha Diamond League, photo by Diamond League AG
The Doha Diamond League meet is the launch, most seasons for the Diamond League season. I have been enjoying this fine meet for much of the last decade.
What makes it so fantastic for elite athletes?
Well, the weather is warm, 80-100 F during the day, and the winds cool the environs of Doha to a windy 70s, which encourages amazing world-leading performances.
I have watched big 3000 meter runs, exhilarating 200 meters, and breathtaking jumps, as well as fast, fast hurdles!
On May 6, 2011, Yenew Alimerew ran 7:27.26 for 3000 meters, his thrilling race is still the Diamond League series record!
One of the coolest jumps was the 18.06m triple jump of then Cuban Pedro Pichardo, who did that amazing jump on 15 May 2015. That began the triple jump battles of 2015 between Pedro Pichardo and Christian Taylor.
Watching Brittney Reese leaps 7.25 meters on May 10 , 2013 with a +1.6mps wind was amazing, and still is a Diamond League record. Brittney was in the groove that night, and she showed her amazing talent!
Hellen Obiri ran the 3000m in 8:20.63 on 9 May 2014, pushing the field to the limit, and giving her the Diamond League record.
On my trip to Doha in 2015, I shared a bus from the airport to the meet hotel with Welsey Felix and his sister Allyson Felix. That year, Allyson blasted a 200m in 21.98, tying the Diamond League record from 2010 of one Veronica Campbell-Brown, from the adidas GP.
On May 15, 2015, I witnessed Jasmin Stowers clock 12.35 over the 100m hurdles, an astounding time, and a Diamond League record! Jasmin was in the top of her form and she looked flawless.
Check out the highlights from 2019 Doha:
General Info on the Doha Diamond League
The Doha Grand Prix was first held in 1997 with only men’s events included in the programme. Women’s disciplines were added the following year. The Doha meeting continued to grow and quickly establish itself as among the finest single-day track and field competitions in the world. Within two years of inception, Doha was awarded Grand Prix II and by 2005 it was one of five meetings worldwide granted Super Grand Prix status. In 2009, Doha having grown to become one of the strongest international early season fixtures was asked to become a part of the new Diamond League which was to be the 14 best one day meetings worldwide. Because of its early season successes and weather, it was the ideal opening competition for the newly-formed Diamond League series. The first ever Diamond League meeting was staged at Qatar Sports Club Stadium on May 14, 2010, a mere two months after Doha hosted the worldwide acclaimed IAAF World Indoor Championships. In 2019, the Diamond League renewed its contract between the shareholder members of the Diamond League and agreed to a new ten (10) year contract with all its members and a new Title sponsor change the name of the series to the Wanda Diamond League. Doha remains as the season opener for the Diamond league series and is looking forward to ten more years of growth and success.
The Wanda Diamond League Doha 2022 will be staged on 13 May at Qatar Sports Club Stadium. Start time will 18.10 CET .
Doha Diamond League Disciplines for 2022:
18:10 Pole Vault Men
18:17 National 100m Men
18:23 Triple Jump Women
18:25 Shot Put Women
18:40 National 400m Men
18:50 National 400m Hurdles B Race Men
19:04 400m Women
19:15 High Jump Men
19:17 3000m Women
19:35 400m H Men
19:43 Javelin Men
19:49 800m Men
20:02 100m H Women
20:12 200m Men
20:23 1500m Men
20:36 200m Women
20:46 3000m SC Men
According to historical weather forecasts the temperature in Doha 25-34 degrees Celsius.
