Sha’Carri Richardson and Fred Kerley dominate Doha Diamond League sprint events
Canada's Aaron Brown tied his season best in the 200m to finish third
Photo by:
Kevin Morris
Doha is the first Diamond League meet of the international outdoor season, and consistently delivers strong results and world-leading times. The marquee event today was the women’s 100m, where Dina Asher-Smith, Shericka Jackson and Sha’Carri Richardson would all face off; Richardson, the American, won decisively in a new meet record and world lead of 10.76 seconds, continuing on the strength of her performance in Florida last month. Team GB’s Asher-Smith took the early lead, but Richardson and Jackson of Jamaica overtook her in the last 30 metres.
Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase
In the women’s steeplechase, both Americans hit the ground. Emma Coburn fell early in the race but recovered, finishing in 10th place (9:29) and Val Constien later in the race. Constien seems to have suffered an injury and left the track in tears.
Overall, the race was an upset for Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya, who was out-kicked by two young athletes–Mutile Yavi of Bahrain, who won in a world-leading 9:04.38, and Sembo Almayew of Ethiopia, who finished second in a PB of 9:05.83.
200m
American Fred Kerley was the decisive winner in the men’s 200m in 19.92, a season’s best. He only gained speed in the last 50 metres, closing extremely well as others faded. Canada’s Aaron Brown finished in a strong third place in 20.20, tying his season’s best.
Before the meet, Kerley was asked what he thinks his best distance is, and jokingly told reporters it was the 250m. His strength in the back end of a 200m suggests that’s probably accurate.
3,000m
The men’s 3,000m saw the new indoor record holder in the event, Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia, as the winner in 7:26.18, a new meet record and world lead. Girma sat back until a lap to go, then overtook Berihu Arewagi, who had led throughout the second half of the race, fading to third and finishing in 7:26.61. Selemon Berega was second, in 7:27.16 (PB). Timothy Cheruiyot was fifth in his debut at the distance (7:36.72).
1,500m
Closing out the night was the women’s 1,500m, which featured Faith Kipyegon, the reigning Olympic and world champion and the second-fastest 1,500m runner of all time. And Kipyegon delivered. The Kenyan runner led from the gun, running a very reasonable pace until 400m to go, when she showed why she’s the queen of this event. Despite a valiant challenge by 21-year-old Diribe Welteji of Ethiopia, Kipyegon closed hard to run 3:58.57, a world lead. Welteji finished second in 3:59.34, with Freweyni Hailu of Ethiopia third in 4:00.29.
The next stop on the Diamond League circuit is Rabat, in three weeks’ time.
Full results can be found here.
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