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Kenya's Hellen Obiri and Faith Kipyegon Run World-Leading Times at Doha Diamond League

Published by
DyeStat.com   Sep 25th 2020, 7:11pm
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Obiri prevails in deep 3,000 and Kipyegon triumphs in 800 as Kenya achieves three victories in Qatar, with Australia’s McSweyn and Hull both setting national records; Jamaica’s Thompson-Herah and Sweden’s Duplantis complete unbeaten seasons, with Americans Chadwick, Mallett and Montgomery also earning wins

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The final Wanda Diamond League meeting Friday in Doha was in many ways a microcosm of the limited global outdoor schedule this year, showcasing several of the world’s elite performers one last time before they begin preparation for next year’s Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Whether it was the Kenyan distance dominance of Hellen Obiri and Faith Kipyegon, Australian national records from Stewart McSweyn and Jessica Hull, quality American hurdling by Payton Chadwick and Aaron Mallett, or the elite performances of Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah and Swedish pole vaulter Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, they all added up to another memorable night of competition at Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar.

RESULTS

Obiri, the two-time World gold medalist in the 5,000 meters, returned to the venue where she captured last year’s title to lead a Kenyan sweep of the top five spots Friday in the 3,000, surging with 300 meters remaining and holding on for victory in a world-leading 8 minutes, 22.54 seconds.

“Doha has become more like a second home to me as I’ve won so many races here, including the World Championship last year,” Obiri told meet organizers. “I love coming back to Doha again and again. I’ve had the opportunity of training in Doha for about a month in preparation for this event and I believe it has helped me to get in shape and acclimated quite well.”

Agnes Jebet Tirop edged Beatrice Chepkoech for second by an 8:22.913 to 8:22.917 margin, followed by Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi (8:24.76) and Hyvin Kiyeng (8:25.13). Seven athletes ran under 8:27, the most in any women’s 3,000 race in history, surpassing the six individuals who achieved the feat at the 2014 Doha Diamond League event.

The previous record had been seven athletes under 8:28 at last year’s Prefontaine Classic at Stanford.

Hull remained in contact with the lead pack until the final two laps, before placing 10th in 8:36.03, still eclipsing the 2003 Australian national record of 8:38.06 held by Benita Willis-Johnson.

Hull, 23, part of the Nike training group coached by Pete Julian, became the only female athlete in Australian history to hold national outdoor records in the 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000, achieving all three all-time marks in a 43-day span this year.

Hull was one of 11 athletes to run faster than American training partner and previous world leader Shannon Rowbury, who ran 8:40.26 on July 17 at The Bigger Friendly event at McKenzie High in Oregon.

Kipyegon, already the world leader this year at 1,000 meters (2:29.15), ran the fastest global mark this season in the 800 by clocking 1:57.68, a significant improvement on her previous-best 1:58.02 in 2015.

“I am happy to win here in Doha considering this is my second 800-meter race after about three years break from it,” Kipyegon said. “I wasn’t really expecting to win and that’s why I am very surprised not only with the win but with my record here tonight.”

Spain’s Esther Guerrero (1:59.22) and British athlete Adelle Tracey (1:59.87) made it 10 athletes to produce sub-2 performances during the outdoor season.

American Kaela Edwards, an adidas athlete, placed seventh in 2:01.49. The U.S. has a streak that began in 1980 of female competitors running sub-2 outdoors in the 800, a streak that is now in jeopardy with less than 100 days remaining in the year.

McSweyn set the first Australian national record of the meet, clocking 3:30.51 in the men’s 1,500 to improve his status as No. 5 performer in the world this season, well ahead of Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega (3:32.97).

Ryan Gregson had held the all-time mark since 2010 with his 3:31.06 performance in Monaco. McSweyn ran 3:31.48 on Aug. 23 in Stockholm to close in on the record, before producing a significant improvement Friday in the same race where Gregson placed 12th in 3:37.75.

Thompson-Herah ran away from the field in the second half of the women’s 100-meter dash, clocking a wind-legal 10.87, just off her world-leading 10.85 effort Sept. 17 in Rome.

“I want to thank the organizers for putting together such a great event,” Thompson-Herah said. “I am happy to win, but my major focus is to finish the year healthy.”

Thompson-Herah boasts four wind-legal performances under 11 seconds this year, including three sub-10.90 efforts. Only fellow Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, American Sha’Carri Richardson and Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo have also run under 11 seconds this year.

Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast was second in 11.21 and American Kayla White took third in 11.25.

Following his world outdoor pole vault record of 20-2 (6.15m) in Rome, Duplantis was able to clear 19-1 (5.82m) on his first attempt to edge American Sam Kendricks and France’s Renaud Lavillenie, who both needed three attempts to make the height.

Duplantis took two tries at 19-5 (5.92m) and had one unsuccessful opportunity at 19-8.25 (6.00m), but remained unbeaten in 16 competitions this year, including 11 outdoors, beating Kendricks eight times overall since losing to him last year at the World Championships in Doha.

“It’s been a fantastic season and I enjoyed sharing the moment tonight with the guys,” Duplantis said. “We’ve not been able to see each other this season as we often do due to obvious reasons. I enjoyed the jump and the rivalry with Sam. It’s been fun with him as we have always got back at each other.”

Matt Ludwig finished fourth at 18-8.75 (5.71m), with fellow Americans Cole Walsh and Audie Wyatt placing sixth and seventh at 18-4.75 (5.61m) and 17-11 (5.46m), respectively.

Despite a pair of false starts delaying the men’s 110-meter hurdles, Mallett remained composed and eventually prevailed in 13.15, taking over the U.S. lead and elevating to No. 3 in the world this year.

“After the two false starts, I just recalibrated the whole race in my head and I tried to stay focussed,” Mallett said. “I’ve been preparing for this competition for quite a long time and tonight I just went out to execute what I’ve been training for.”

Chadwick and Taliyah Brooks, ASICS athletes and training partners under coach Chris Johnson in Arkansas, took the top two spots in the women’s 100-meter hurdles.

Chadwick, already the U.S. leader this season, clocked a wind-legal 12.78 to ascend to the No. 6 global performer this year. It marked the second-fastest time in her career, trailing only a 12.70 representing Arkansas at last year’s Southeastern Conference Championships.

“The first part of my performance in the hurdles wasn’t great but I came back strongly in the second and I ended up winning,” Chadwick said. “I’ve been focusing on running without fans in my training and I guess I am used to it by now.”

Brooks ran a lifetime-best 12.86 to improve to the No. 2 American competitor this season and 10th in the world. Her previous best wind-legal effort was 12.94 competing for the Razorbacks at the 2018 SEC Championships.

Chadwick also finished seventh in the women’s 100 in a personal-best 11.51 and Brooks placed fifth in the long jump with a fifth-round leap of 20-8 (6.30m).

Kahmari Montgomery won the men’s 400 in 45.55, just off his season-best 45.50, which has him ranked No. 12 in the world this year. Fellow American David Kendziera was eighth in 47.38.

Ukraine’s Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk came through with a clutch performance of 22-8 (6.91m) in the sixth round to win the women’s long jump, improving on her status as No. 4 in the world this season.

Sweden’s Khaddi Sagnia, who ranks No. 3 among global competitors at 22-8.50 (6.92m), led the competition early with a second-round mark of 22-5.75 (6.85m). Nigeria’s Ese Brume jumped 22-0.25 (6.71m) in the fourth round.

Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich added another victory for Kenya by clocking 1:44.16 in the men’s 800, ascending to No. 5 in the world this year. Great Britain’s Elliot Giles ran 1:44.56 to elevate to No. 9 globally, with American Bryce Hoppel finishing fifth at 1:45.86.

Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot, the reigning World gold medalist in the 1,500, was eighth in 1:46.78 and American Erik Sowinski achieved his 90th career sub-1:47 performance by running 1:46.81 to place ninth.

Arthur Gue Cisse set the Ivory Coast national record to win the men’s 200 in 20.23, equaling the No. 5 global competitor this year. Americans Christopher Belcher (20.86), Mike Rodgers (21.19) and Demek Kemp (21.87) were fifth, seventh and eighth, respectively.



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