By Fawad Hussain
Doha: Sprinters Tori Bowie and Ameer Webb produced convincing wins at the season-opening meeting which saw mixed fortunes for the favourites at a packed Qatar Sports Club Stadium yesterday.
American sprinter Bowie stunned favourites Dafne Schippers and Campbell Brown Veronoca to win the women’s 100m race while her compatriot Webb led the men’s 200m track to steal limelight in the opening meeting as around 15,000 fans watched from the stands.
Tori displayed a stunning performance in one of the featured races in women events, shocking Schippers of the Netherlands and Jamaican sprinter Veronoca in a huge upset.
The 25-year old Tori finished the race in 18.80, the best time in the competition this year so far. Dafne (18.83) claimed second spot while Veronica (10.91) ended the race in second position.
“I gave the race in Doha my everything and the win was mine,” said Tori after her memorable triumph.
“This being an Olympic year, I’m eagerly looking ahead at the outdoor season. I feel I’m a much better runner than I was last season.”
Both Dafne and Veronica blamed poor starts to their failure, but they looked satisfied with their overall show.
“It was my first race. I executed well, but I could have been better in the start,” said Veronica.
“It was very close to my personal best, but my start was bad. I am happy with my race and I am feeling OK,” said Dafne.
Webb, overcame a star-studded line-up including Qatari sensation Femi Ogunode to win the men’s 200m title with a time of 19.85.
Ogunode (20.10) was behind Alonso Edward of Panama (20.06) who took second position.
“I just wanted to execute my race today,” said the American sprinter. “It’s gonna be tough in Eugene at the Olympics but I won’t hurry up.”
Femi who was tipped to win the contest wasn’t dejected after his failure to win the race.
“This is my first 200m race of the season and I can’t say I’m disappointed. I made a mistake at the turn and that’s what cost me a better finish,” said Ogunode.
With home fans also expecting a top finish from Haroun Abdalleleh in the men’s 400m, the Qatari teenage sprint prodigy failed to live up to expectations and could only finish the race in third position with a time of 44.81.
America’s Lashawn Merit (44.41) claimed the title with Machel Cedenio of Trinidad &Tobago (44.68) finishing second.
The 19-year old Qatari who won silver medal in the World Indoor Athletics Championship in Portland in March, however, was satisfied with his performance.
“It was not a bad race. I tried to chase LaShawn, but he went out fast. Next stop for me will be the Eugene Diamond League,” he commented.
The American 400m specialist was delighted on the win.
“I feel good, I executed the race as I wanted to, all I do is train, building my confidence and will keep on working hard,” said the 29-year old.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s star high jumper Mutaz Barshim had a cautious start to his Diamond League season taking just one attempt (2.29) and leaping 2.26m for seventh position.
America’s Erik Kynard (2.33m) won the contest while China’s Zhang Guowei (2.31) and Marco Fassinotti (2.29) of Italy took third position.
Barshim said his limited participation in the event for part of his plans for Olympics.
“I am not at all disappointed with my performance. It’s all part of the plan,” said Barshim.
“This being an Olympic year, I am taking things slow. Last year, I peaked early and by July, I was practically dead. I am not going to repeat that mistake. I thanks the fans for cheering on me. I promise not to disappoint them in Rio,” said the 2012 Olympics bronze medallist.
In the men’s 800m regional race (non-scoring race), Qatar’s Haydar Abubaker Abdalla gave home fans cheer by topping the race. His win with a 1:45.28 run, his personal best in the competition earned him a ticket to Rio.
“I am so happy because I qualified for the Rio Olympics Games with a new personal best,” said the Qatari runner.
“From the beginning, my only objective was to win. I am thrilled that I put up such a strong show in front of home fans. I’ll try my best to improve my times.”
Kenya’s Kiplangat Nicholas (1:45.56) and Algeria’s Yacine Hathat (1:46:06) claimed the next two positions respectively.
In men’s triple jump, as expected Olympic champion, Christain Taylor reigned supreme with the 17.23m show overcoming his Chinese counterpart Bin Dong (17.7m) Alexis Copello (16.98) of Cuba.
The Kenyans dominated the 1500 men’s race with Asbel Kiprop (3:32.15), Motonei Elijah (3:33.67) and Kiplagat Silas (3:33.86) securing the top three spots.
The Kenyan men also dominated the 3000m steeplechase as Conseslus Kipruto won the race followed by Birech Jairus Kipchoge (Kenya) and Abraham Kibiwott.
In men’s 110m hurdles, Omar McLeod of Jamaica reigned supreme followed by his compatriot Hansle Parchment and Orlando Ortega.
In the most anticipated event of women’s competitions, world champion Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia won the 3,000m race after clocking 8:23.11 with Kenya’s Mercy Cherono finishing second with a time of 8:26.36. Gelete Burka (Ethiopia) took third position.
“It was a very good race for me, the track is good and it really helps,” said the Ethiopian star.
In women’s 400m hurdles, Eilidh Doyle was the winner after her run in 54.53, the best time in the ongoing season. Bahrain’s Kemi Adekoya (54.87), Kaliese Spencer (55.02) finished in second and third places respectively.
America’s Tia Brooks won the women’s shot put with a throw of 19.48m with Hungary’s Anita Martin (19.22m) and Emel Dereli of Turkey (18.57) securing the next two positions respectively. With her compatriot Michelle Carter who was favourite to win the event finishing fifth with a throw of 17.83m, Brooks was delighted after her win.
The women’s triple jump event saw Colombia’s Caterine Ibarguen bagging the title after leaping 15.04m, the world’s best show in the current year. Rojas Yulimar of Venezuela (19.92m) and Kazakhstan’s Olga Rypakova (14.61m) came in third position.
America’s Sandi Morres stole limelight in the women’s pole vault when she equaled the Diamond League record to win the competition.
The 24-year old cleared the distance of 4.83, accurately that of Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou’s (Greece) performance in Paris last July. Swiss Nicole Buchler (4.78) and Katerina Stefanidi of Greece occupied the next two places.
The Peninsula
