World champions Asbel Kiprop and Mohammed Aman will meet in a superb 800m contest, while Olympic champion Allyson Felix seeks her eleventh win on the Qatar SC track at the Doha Diamond League meeting on Friday 15 May, according to the organising committee.
This trio are among the latest group of elite Olympic or world champions launching their 2015 Diamond League campaigns at the opening meeting of the 14th edition, held in the Qatari capital for the sixth year running.
Both Kiprop and Aman are familiar faces in Qatar. Kenya’s Kiprop has won both the 800m and 1500m in Doha — the former in 2011 and the latter in the last two editions of the meeting. His time of 3:29.18 last year stands as the meeting record and paved the way for his second consecutive world-leading time over the distance.
Kiprop — the 2008 Olympic 1500m gold medallist, currently world champion over 800m — said “I love running in Doha. The competition is always strong and the conditions are very favourable for running fast. I hope to produce a good performance this year, but it will be tough”.
Aman is the reigning world champion over 800m for both indoors and outdoors, and also won the same event in Doha last year in a race that produced no fast times. The 21-year-old champion will receive thunderous support from his Ethiopian compatriots, who flock every year to cheer him on strongly. His time of 1:42.37 remains his career best since 2013. The track will also see the participation of Botswana’s Nijel Amos, the 2012 Olympic silver medallist and last year’s Diamond League winner. Amos is the second-fastest man in history thanks to his time of 1:41.73, set in London.
Felix sets her sights on eleventh win in Doha
Starting her season early in Doha has become something of a habit for Felix, the Olympic 200m champion, who is seeking her third win under Doha’s skies in her signature event. Felix said: “Beginning my season in Doha has really become a habit for me, and I’m looking forward to coming back to this place”, and she has ten wins in Doha, including three in the 100m, two in the 200m and five straight in the 400m from 2007 to 2011. She added: “I love running in Doha, where we know the conditions will be perfect and the competition great”. Felix suffered a hamstring injury during the 2013 championships but recovered and returned at the end of 2014 with a superb win, clocking 22.02 at the Brussels Diamond League meeting, the fastest performance in the world since her win at the 2012 Olympic Games.
The three-time world 200m champion, 2012 IAAF Athlete of the Year and two-time Diamond League winner will face her Ivorian rival Murielle Ahoure, who turned heads by winning two silver medals in the 100m and 200m at the 2013 World Championships. Rising British star Jodie Williams, who won the world youth and world junior 100m titles in 2009 and 2010 respectively, will also join them.
Rivalry between Aregawi and Sifan Hassan renewed
The women’s 1500m will not lack top-class stars, as one of the sport’s fiercest rivalries continues. Leading the field is Sweden’s Abeba Aregawi, world indoor and outdoor champion over the distance, who won the Diamond League in 2012 and 2013. Her career-best 3:56.54, set in 2012, remains the fastest performance in the world since 2007, while her winning time of 3:56.60 in Doha in 2013 was the fastest in the world that year. She will face the Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan, who, like Aregawi, was born in Ethiopia. 2014 was a breakout season for Hassan, who won the Continental Cup and claimed the European title ahead of Aregawi, clocking a world-leading 3:57.00. The pair have met nine times over the distance, with Hassan holding a slight 5-4 edge heading into Doha.
Kenya’s Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon will defend Kenyan pride; the 2011 world youth and 2012 world junior champion clocked an impressive personal best of 3:56.98 in Doha in 2013, behind Aregawi.
Mr Dahlan Al Hamad, president of the Qatar Athletics Federation, said: “All these names taking part in the championship reflect our commitment not only to bringing the best athletes to Doha but also to delivering top-level competition. We know the athletics community is looking forward to watching a fantastic men’s 800m as well as the women’s 1500m featuring Abeba Aregawi and Sifan Hassan” and added: “And of course we are always delighted to invite Allyson Felix back to Doha, who has previously impressed, competed and won here many times”.
Return of meeting record holder Reese
Meanwhile Brittney Reese — on top of the world long jump since 2009 — returns to the scene with her career-best 7.25m to her name, making her the leader in the event. The 28-year-old American has won three consecutive outdoor world titles, the 2010 and 2012 indoor world titles, the 2012 Olympic gold, plus back-to-back Diamond League wins in 2010 and 2011. She also set the Doha meeting record in 2013.
Reese will face fellow American Tianna Bartoletta, a former indoor and outdoor world champion who won the Diamond League last season, as well as Serbia’s Ivana Spanovic, a bronze medallist and Continental Cup runner-up last year.
Vlasic seeks third win in Doha
Another athlete returning to her familiar fast-paced arena is Blanka Vlasic, with four high jump wins between 2007 and 2010 to her name. In addition to winning two outdoor and indoor world titles and the Diamond League in 2010 and 2011, the 31-year-old Croatian’s personal best remains just one centimetre shy of the world record.
Vlasic will face her long-time rival, Spain’s Ruth Beitia, the reigning European champion, who is 36 years old and a 2013 World Championships bronze medallist. Beitia finished third at the 2010 World Indoor Championships in Doha, behind Vlasic.
The stadium will also see the participation of Russia’s Irina Gordeyeva, whose best mark dates back to 2012.
