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≡ DOHA DIAMOND LEAGUE ≡
A fabulous javelin showdown highlighted the annual Doha Diamond League meet on Friday, with world-leading marks in five events:
● Men/800 m: 1:43.11, Tshepiso Masalela (BOT)
● Men/Javelin Throw: 91.06 m (298-9), Julian Weber (GER)
● Women/100 m: 10.92, Tia Clayton (JAM)
● Women/Steeple: 9:05.08, Faith Cherotich (KEN)
● Women/Triple Jump: 14.39 m (47-2 1/2), Thea LaFond (DMA)
The men’s jav saw Tokyo Olympic and 2023 World Champion Neeraj Chopra of India get a national record of 90.23 m (296-0) in the third round that looked like a possible winner. But Germany’s Weber, the 2022 European champ, had been close at 89.84 m (294-9) in round five and then managed a lifetime best of 91.06 m (298-9) in the sixth and final round to move Chopra to second place. Said Weber:
“I don’t know what happened tonight, I think I’ll have to watch it!
“I just felt amazing today, I didn’t know how that happened because the previous weeks weren’t that good for me, but I was just feeling great, my physio gave me a really good massage. The crowd was amazing, there was a great background and also helped me throw beyond 90 meters for the first time. It also was the winning throw in the last round, so it came out really perfect.”
In the men’s 800 m, Botswana’s Masalela – seventh in the Paris Olympic 800 m – had to pass Kenya’s Wyclife Kinyamal on the home straight and charged to the line to win in a world-leading 1:43.11. American record holder Bryce Hoppel also passed Kinyamal in the final 50 m got second in 1:43.26 with Kinyamal third in 1:43.26.
The women’s 100 wasn’t close from the start, as Jamaica’s Tia Clayton, seventh in the Paris Olympic final in 2024, got a strong start and never let up, winning in a lifetime best of 10.92 (wind +2.0 m/s), with sister Tina Clayton second (11.02) and five-time World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce fourth in 11.05.
In the women’s Steeple, Kenya’s Olympic bronzer Cherotich trailed Olympic champ Winfred Yavi (BRN) into the final straight, but blew by in the final 15 m to get the world-leading win in 9:05.08, with Yavi at 9:05.26.
In a Paris Olympic rematch, it was Jamaica’s silver winner Shanieka Ricketts who owned the women’s triple jump, getting out to a wind-aided 14.72 m (48-3 1/2) in the second round and won easily. Olympic champ LaFord had to settle for second with a world-leading (legal) jump of 14.39 m (470-2 1/2) in round five.
The lone U.S. win of the day came from Olympic runner-up Shelby MacEwen in the men’s high jump, as the only one to clear 2.26 m (7-5), while Japan’s Ryoichi Akamatsu and Olympic winner Hamish Kerr (NZL) cleared 2.23 m (7-3 3/4) to finish 2-3.
The highly-anticipated men’s discus showed that Australia’s Matt Denny, the Olympic bronze medalist, will have to be reckoned with, winning at 68.94 m (226-2) over Tokyo Olympic champ Daniel Stahl (SWE: 67.06 m/220-0) and 2022 World Champion Kristjan Ceh (SLO: 66.92 m/219-7). American Sam Mattis was fifth at 54.24 m (214-0).
The men’s 200 had Olympic champ Letsile Tebogo in lane seven, taking the lead on the home straight and then holding off Courtney Lindsey of the U.S. in lane eight, even while turning to look at him in the final 5 m, 20.10 to 20.11 (+0.7). Kyree King of the U.S. was sixth in 20.61.
Kenya’s Reynold Cheruiyot outran European champ Dominic Lobalu (SUI) and Birhanu Balew (BRN) to take the men’s 5,000 m, in a lifetime best of 13:16.40, to 13:17.70 for both. Jamaica’s Rasheed Broadbell, the Paris bronzer, ran away with the 110 m hurdles in 13.14 (+0.7), ahead of American Jamal Britt (13.25), with Olympic runner-up Daniel Roberts seventh (13.49).
Italy’s Alessandro Sibilio came on late to win the 400 m hurdles in 49.32, ahead of Turkey’s Ismail Nezir (49.40); American CJ Allen was fifth (49.90).
Bahrain’s 400 m world leader Salwa Eid Naser dominated her race in 49.83, way ahead of Natalia Bukowiecka (POL: 50.92). Kenya’s Nelly Chepchirchir was a clear winner of the women’s 1,500 m, 4:05.00 to 4:06.27 for countrywoman Susan Ejore-Sanders (4:06.27).
The women’s vault went to European champ Molly Caudery (GBR) at 4.75 m (15-7), beating Roberta Bruni (ITA) and Tokyo Olympic champ Katie Moon of the U.S., both at 4.63 m (15-2 1/4) and tied for second. Americans Emily Grove and Sandi Morris tied for fourth, also at 4.63 m.
The Diamond League moves on to Rabat (MAR) next week.
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