Today’s meet in Doha got the weekend rolling like few meets do during the course of a season as 13 seasons bests were set in various events all over the stadium!<\/p>\n
Where to begin? Well Kerron Stewart (JAM) demolished the women’s 100 field in 10.93 (+1.3) but was just short of her own yearly leading mark (10.92). Second place was a far back Stephanie Durst (US) in 11.15. Similar story in the men’s 100 where Travis Padgett (US) blitzed a nice 10.04 (+1.4) with second place well back in 11.14 (Michael Frater, JAM). Padgett was just off the 10.00 yearly leader of Walter Dix (US). <\/p>\n
Those races aside, almost everything else that happened in Doha was a World Leading effort! The distance runners from Africa showed up and set World Leaders in the 1500 meters and steeplechase on both the men’s and women’s sides. In the hurdles David Oliver looked smooth and confident taking down his own yearly leader and is looking like he will be one to contend with in Berlin. <\/p>\n
Young Sudanese half miler Abubaker Kaki, still only 19 years old ran an outstanding 1:43.09 to win a close 800 meters over Asbel Kiprotu Kiprop (1:43.17). Kaki set the WJR last year at 1:42.69 and is looking like he just might be the next half mile superstar. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him scare the 1:42 barrier this year. <\/p>\n
Field eventers got into the action in Doha too as American Reese Hoffa (71′, US) and Norwegian, Andreas Thorkildsen (274′ 7″) had huge throws in the shot put and javelin. And high jumper supreme Blanka Vlasic scaled 2.05 (6′ 8.75″) in what could be a season where she finally gets that HJ WR. <\/p>\n
Will be hard for Osaka to top this, but I hope they do!<\/p>\n
World Leading marks set in Doha:<\/p>\n
50.75 – Allyson Felix, United States
4:06.67 – Gelata Burka, Ethiopia
9:32.68 (st) – Ruth Nyangao, Kenya
12.52 – Priscilla Lopes, Canada
2.05m (6′ 8.75″) – Blanka Vlasic – Croatia
4.55m (14′ 11″)- Silke Spiegelbug, Germany
4.55m (14′ 11″) – Yuliya Golubchikova, Russia
6.99m (22′ 11.25″) – Brittany Reese, United States<\/p>\n
1:43.09 – Abubaker Kaki, Sudan
3:30.88 – Augustine Kirpono Choge, Kenya
7:58.85 (St) – Ezekiel Kemboi, Kenya
13.09 – David Oliver, United States
21.64m (71′) – Reese Hoffa, United States
83.69m (274′ 7″) – Andreas Thorkildsen, Norway<\/p>\n