by Alfonz Juck
DOHA (QAT, May 5): Some top marks, a great crowd, and wind that was, in essence, the opening Wanda Diamond League meeting 2023 at the Qatar SC Stadium. 100 m meeting record, which was held by the late Tori Bowie, was smashed by Sha’Carri Richardson’s 10.76. Nine runners went under 7:40 over the 3000m headed by the excellent Lamecha Girma. Local superstar Mutaz Essa Barshim was only third in his season opener. In total, seven world-leading marks and three meeting records have been achieved.
Short reviews
200m: Fred Kerley won in 19.92 (0.3), after showing a monster acceleration in the final 50m, ahead of Kenny Bednarek (20.11) and Aaron Brown (20.20)
800m: After a very slow first round (53.69), only very moderate times and victory for Slimane Moula (1:46.06) ahead of Wycliffe Kinyamal (1:46.61) and Djamel Sedjati (1:46.97)
3000m: Fast pace on the first 2 km (2:30.01 / 4:58.91) brought, breaking the meeting record and setting a world lead of 7:26.18 by Lamecha Girma, moving to all-time No. 8. Selemon Barega was second in 7:27.16 PB ahead of Berihu Aregawi 7:27.61 and Soufiane El Bakkali 7:33.87 PB. New national records for Sweden by Andreas Almgren at seventh (7:37.05) and Tunisia by Mohamed Amine Jihnaoui at eighth (7:37.56)
400m hurdles: Rai Benjamin clocked 47.78, but CJ Allen was closer than expected with a PB of 47.93, Wilfried Happio of France a distant third (49.12). In the B race, U20 Doudai Ismail Abakar clocked 49.18 PB.
High jump: JuVaughn Harrison clearly dominated with seven successful attempts from opening 215 until 232; he retired after failing once at the 235. Other jumpers delivered only moderate performances, with Sanghyeok Woo second with 227 and Mutaz Essa Barshim disappointing third with 224
Triple jump: Pedro Pichardo kept the lead with 17.91w (2.1) over the improving Hugues Fabrice Zango, setting a world lead of 17.81 (1.5), with second best of 17.65. In a windy competition, Andy Diaz was third at 17.80w (2.6) and Lazaro Martinez fourth at 17.71w (3.4). Christian Taylor 16.53w (3.1) did not achieve the top eight.
Discus: Kristjan Ceh decided to win with his first attempt of 70.89, a new meet record, and an excellent series (70.89-x-68.95-68.46-70.70-x). Daniel Stahl was the only one who managed to get closer with 67.14; Sam Mattis went to the podium in the fifth attempt (64.69)
Javelin: The competition was decided after the first two series; Neeraj Chopra won with a world lead 88.67, narrowly just 4cm ahead of Jakub Vadlejch (88.63) and Anderson Peters (85.88). With changing winds was difficult to cope with the technique, and Vadlejch had a long foul in the fourth attempt.
Women
100m: Sha’Carri Richardson stormed in the last part of the race to win in world-leading and meet record 10.76 (0.9) ahead of Shericka Jackson in 10.85 and Dina Asher-Smith in 10.98
400m: Marileidy Paulino in 50.51 outperformed in-shape Shamier Little at 50.84, Natalia Kaczmarek was a distant third (51.64)
1500m: Final event of the evening was launched more slowly than expected, so the possible WR attempt was off. Anyway, the main star Faith Kipyegon won clearly in a new world lead of 3:58.57 ahead of Ethiopians Diribe Welteji (3:59.34) and Freweyni Hailu (4:00.29)
3000m steeple: Winfred Yavi ran away in the home straight Sembo Almayew and won in 9:04.38 world lead, Ethiopian U20 record and third best ever U20 for Almayew (9:05.83) and Faith Cherotich third (9:06.43). Fifth Marusa Mismas Zrimsek in a new Slovenian record of 9:13.61, bad luck for US steeples as both Emma Coburn and Valerie Constien fell
100m hurdles: Jasmine Camacho-Quinn opened her international season with 12.48 (1.1) ahead of Alaysha Johnson (12.66) and Nia Ali (12.69)
Pole vault: Katie Moon cleared world leading 481 on her second attempt and retired as Tina Sutej, equalling the Slovenian record with 476, and Sandi Morris (471) were not successful at 481. Wilma Murto failed at 445 first height, Nina Kennedy at 455, and Holly Bradshaw, due to injury did not compete.
