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≡ DOHA DIAMOND LEAGUE ≡
Originally scheduled for 8 May, the annual Doha Diamond League was moved to Friday due to the Middle East conflicts, but had three world-leading performances during an energetic show despite temperatures of more than 90 F during the meet:
● Men/Triple Jump: 17.71 m (58-1 1/4), Pedro Pichardo (CUB)
● Women/400 m hurdles: 52.30, Emma Zapaletalova (SVK)
● Women/Triple Jump: 15.13 m (49-7 3/4), Davisleydis Velazco (CUB)
Pichardo, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champ, blasted to the world lead with his winning 17.71 m (58-1 1/4) jump in the second round, but that was in response to a new world lead in the first round from Jamaica’s Jordan Scott, at 17.69 m (58-0 1/2)! Pichardo added a 17.56 m (57-7 1/2) in round three just for good measure.
Zapletalova, the 2025 Worlds bronze winner, has been the revelation of the the 400 hurdles so far this season and took over this race by the sixth hurdle and moved away cleanly for a world-leading lifetime best of 52.30. Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton, a two-time Worlds bronzer herself, came on in the second half to get second at 53.05, still no. 3 on the 2026 world list.
Cuba’s Davisleydis Velazco, the world leader in the women’s triple jump at 14.85 m (48-8 3/4), had a sensational day, but she needed to. Her world lead evaporated as countrywoman Leyanis Perez jumped 14.97 m (49-1 1/2) in round two to take the lead. Velazco equaled her in round four at 14.97 m and then won with a clutch lifetime best of 15.13 m (49-7 3/4) in round five! She’s now no. 17 on the all-time list.
The U.S. got a couple of wins:
In the men’s 110 m hurdles, rising U.S. star Jamal Britt got out well, but had trouble with the ninth hurdle and World Champion Cordell Tinch came on to get the win in a modest 13.23 (+1.4) over Spain’s Asier Martinez (13.27), who also was hitting hurdles, but came from fourth on the run-in. Britt ended up in eighth at 13.85.
American Addy Wiley, the World Indoor bronze winner, took the lead in the women’s 800 with 300 m to go, moving past 2019 World Champion Halimah Naakayi (UGA). Ethiopia’s 2024 World Indoor champ Tsige Duguma rolled into second into the final turn, but Wiley held on to the finish and won in 1:57.98 to 1:58.08 for Duguma and 1:58.41 for Nakaayi.
Elsewhere:
The men’s 200 m saw South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile motoring into the lead off the turn and winning in a lifetime best 19.74 (+1.8) to move to no. 4 on the 2026 world list. Zimbabwe’s Maka Charamba was a clear second in 19.88, ahead of Alex Ogando (DOM: 19.96). American Kyree King was sixth in 20.38.
The Steeple started at a strong pace with Kenyan Abraham Kibiwott in front at 2,000 m, but Olympic champ Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) lurking in third. El Bakkali took over with 500 m to go with Samuel Firewu (ETH) chasing, but in vain. El Bakkali won convincingly in 8:09.28 – with 90 F temperatures at the finish – with Firewu at 8:10.44 and Daniel Arce (ESP) third in 8:13.35.
The crowd was pretty lively despite the head and roared for national hero and Tokyo Olympic champ Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT) in the men’s high jump, which got serious at 2.24 m (7-4 1/4), where he, 2025 Euro Indoor bronzer Matteo Sioli (ITA) and Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk were the only one to clear. At 2.27 m, Doroshchuk missed, and the others cleared right away; at 2.29 m (7-6), only Sioli could clear and he was the winner, with Barshim second.
In the vault, Greek World silver winner Emmanouil Karalis jumped to the lead at 5.92 m (19-5) on his second try, matched by American Tokyo 2020 silver winner Chris Nilsen on his third try, and Norway’s 2023 Euro Indoor champ Sondre Gottormsen. No one could clear 6.02 m (19-9), so Karalis took the win on misses, with Nilsen second. Fellow American stars Sam Kendricks and KC Lightfoot went 4-5 at 5.82 m (19-1).
Two-time World Champion Anderson Peters (GRN) took the lead in the men’s javelin in the second round at 86.38 m (283-5), only to see the season’s breakout star, Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage take over at 88.68 m (290-11) in round four. American Curtis Thompson, the 2025 Worlds bronzer, was third at 85.99 m (282-11), a seasonal best.
Jamaica’s Kemba Nelson got to the front of the women’s 100 m by 40 m and won in a fast but wind-aided 10.88 (+2.5 m/s), taking over from Italy’s Zaynab Dosso, who got second in 11.01w.
Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino (DOM) was in charge of the women’s 400 m almost from the start and forged a solid lead to win in 48.91, moving to no. 2 in the world for 2026. Poland’s Natalia Bukowiecka was a distant second in 50.10; American Paris Peoples was sixth in 51.27.
World leader Birke Haylom (ETH) was the only one to go with the pacer in the women’s 1500 m and ran alone to the finish in 3:59.89. Fellow Ethiopians Saron Berhe and Haregeweyni Kalayu were 2-3 but well behind in 4:02.61 to 4:03.56.
The women’s 5,000 m had 18 entrants, of which 14 were from Ethiopia! The race stayed close and by the bell, it was Asayech Ayichew (ETH) in the lead, but then 2024 All-African Games champ Medina Eisa ran to the front, chased by Lemlem Nibret (ETH). Fantaye Belayneh (ETH) was moving up to challenge into the final turn, but crashed and split up the race. Eisa took over again into the straight and won in 14:53.91, ahead of a final dash from countrywomen Likina Amebaw (14:54.37) and Marta Alemayo (14:55.65).
Next on the Diamond League circuit is the Meeting de Paris on 28 June.
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