In 2014 Lashawn Merritt, Silas Kiplagat, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, Jairus Birech, Mutaz Essa Barshim, Godfrey Mokoena, Piotr Malachowski, Eunice Sum, Mercy Cherono, Kaliese Spencer, Caterine Ibargüen and Valerie Adams all competed in the Qatari capital as their first steps towards becoming Diamond Race Champions.
Yet of that dozen, only Merrit, Malachowski, Sum, Ibargüen and Adams were victorious in the first IAAF Diamond League meeting of the year, suggesting that while any points gleaned can be absolutely vital, taking the maximum is not a necessity with end of season glory in mind.
A Rich History…
Long memories aren’t necessarily required when searching for breathtaking displays produced in the IAAF Diamond League’s only meeting in the Middle East. In fact, there were two all-time great performances just 12 months ago.
Having secured a silver medal at the IAAF World Indoor Championships just a couple of months earlier, most observers knew that Hellen Obiri was in decent form as she lined up in the 3000m in the 2014 meeting.
Yet Genzebe Dibaba, the gold medalist in Sopot, was heavily favoured for victory following her world indoor record breaking 8:16.60 in Stockholm in February.
With all eyes on the Ethiopian, it was Kenya’s Obiri who blazed her way to 5th on the world all-time list with a dominant run. 8:20.68 was the time on the clock, sending the Kenyan supporters in the stadium, of whom there were many, into raptures.
Another big favourite on the night was Mutaz Essa Barshim, the poster boy of Qatari athletics, and hopes were high of an improvement on his then personal best – 2.40m – set in Eugene almost a year before.
Instead it was Russia’s Ivan Ukhov who better the 2.40m mark, clearing 2.41m to take a superb high jump competition that saw four men jump 2.37m or better. It set up a scintillating summer of head to heads in the event across seven IAAF Diamond League meetings.
Diamond Race winners
Doha will see 11 2014 Diamond Race winners take the first steps on the road towards retaining the their titles.
In the women’s events Tianna Bartoletta (long jump), Sandra Perkovic (discus), Allyson Felix (200m), Hiwot Ayalew (3000m Steeplechase) Dawn Harper-Nelson (100mH) and Novlene Williams-Mills all line up hoping to replicate their 2015 form.
Williams-Mills in particular will have her work cut out, as she goes in a 400m race that also features a resurgent Sanya Richards-Ross, who has already gone under 50 seconds this season and who has an added incentive, having never won the Diamond Race in her illustrious career.
Harper-Nelson, on the other hand, has won three consecutive Diamond Trophies and renews her rivalry with fellow Amercian Queen Harrison.
Bartoletta, too, faces stiff competition, as European Indoor Champion Ivana Spanovic opens her campaign.
In the men’s events last year’s Diamond Race winners Reese Hoffa (shot), Thomas Röhler (javelin), Christian Taylor (triple jump) and Justin Gatlin (100m) have all committed to opening their campaigns in Doha.
In 2014 Olympic Champion Taylor competed strongly in both horizontal jumps across the whole IAAF Diamond League season, yet is likely to focus on the triple jump this year, as he looks to add a fourth consecutive Diamond Trophy. He faces the returning World Champion, Teddy Tamgho.
