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Caster Semenya Wins Doha Diamond League 800 Meters with Fast TimePublished by
Caster Semenya Grabs Headlines, Throwers Impress in DohaBy Adam Kopet Caster Semenya was a late addition to the 800 meters at the Doha Diamond League meeting, the first stop on the 2019 Diamond League series. She made the most of her appearance, winning in a world-leading time of 1:54.98. This was Semenya's last chance to race in her primary event before new gender regulations go into effect next week that would either require her to take hormone suppressing drugs or switch events. Semenya slotted in behind the rabbit after the break line, setting herself up to run a fast time. Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi, who runs for the Oregon Track Club Elite, went with Semenya early, but could not hold on in the final 200 meters. Niyonsaba finished second in 1:57.75. Running from the main pack, which did not closely follow the rabbit, Ajee' Wilson finished third in 1:58.83. Fellow American and Wilson's training partner, Raevyn Rogers finished fifth in 1:59.07. Kenya's Nelly Jepkosgei was fourth in 1:59.00. Semenya has been the top 800-meter runner in the world for several years now. Her 1:54.98 ranks 15th on the all-time performance list. She now owns four of the top-15 times ever run, including her 1:54.25 clocking in Paris last year, which places her fourth on the all-timer performer list. Of course, with the new gender regulations coming into effect next week, Semenya has a choice ahead of her. She can take the hormone suppressing drugs that will allow her to continue to compete in the 800 meters, she can chance events to something outside the restricted window of 400 meters through the mile or she can retire. After the race, Semenya told reports that she intends to defend her IAAF World Outdoor Championships title in the 800 meters at the end of the season and that she will not take the hormone suppressing drugs the IAAF requires. That hints that she intends to keep fighting the regulations in the courts.
There was some great field event action in Doha, highlighted terrific competitions in the men's discus and shot put. Daniel Stahl of Sweden twice broke the Diamond League record in the discus. He finished with a best of 231-6 (70.56m). That is also the best mark ever achieved in Asia. The men's shot put featured the first head-to-head competition between Ryan Crouser and New Zealand's Tom Walsh. Crouser opened his season two weeks ago at the Beach Invitational where he launched the shot 74-7.25 (22.74m), the best mark since 1990. Walsh was last year's world leader at 74-4.50 (22.67m). Competing in Doha, neither thrower did particularly well in the first round. Walsh recorded a foul and Crouser opened with a mark of 65-9.75 (20.06m). The fireworks, however started in the second round when Crouser took the lead with a mark of 72-7.25 (22.13m). Walsh responded in the third round with a mark of 72-4.25 (22.06m). Neither athlete was able to improve in the final three rounds, but this will not be the final time Crouser and Walsh face each other. They are both scheduled to compete at the Prefontaine Classic next month. The men's 800 meters saw Nijel Amos of Botswana, who runs for the Oregon Track Club Elite, win in a world-leading 1:44.29. He finished just ahead of Emmanuel Korir of Kenya and a hard charging Donavan Brazier, who ran 1:44.50 and 1:44.70, respectively. Dalilah Muhammad made her season debut in her main event, the 400-meter hurdles, in winning fashion. She dominated the race to win in a world-leading 53.61. Ashley Spencer finished second in 54.72. Hillary Bor nearly pulled off the win in the 3,000-meter steeplechase as he led in the last 200 meters until the final barrier. Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkkali kicked past him to win in 8:07.22. Bor held on for second in a personal best 8:08.41. That ranks him third on the U.S. all-time performer list. The women's 3,000 meters featured a great match-up between Helen Obiri of Kenya and Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia. Obiri, who won the IAAF World Cross Country Championships five weeks ago, continued her winning ways, holding off Dibaba to win in 8:25.60. Dibaba ran 8:26.20. Finishing third was Kenya's Lilian Kasait Rengeruk in a personal best of 8:29.02. Her finishing place and time is impressive as she had fallen with about 1,000 meters left in the race and was able to get up and still be in the mix on the final lap. In the sprints, Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith won the women's 200 meters in a world-leading 22.26. The men's 200 meters was won by Turkey's Ramil Guliyev, the reigning world champion, in 19.99. More news |
