LetsRun.com's Recap Of Doha 2012: The Samsung Diamond League Starts Off in Style

By LetsRun.com
May 11, 2012

The Diamond League athletics season got off to a fine start in Doha, Qatar on Friday. In the distances, Silas Kiplagat and Asbel Kiprop waged a battle for the ages in the 1500, Kenenisa Bekele looked very human, Vivian Cheruiyot showed why she doesn't lose, Pamela Jelimo won, but may have a new challenger, David Rudisha is still great and Paul Koech is running very fast. In the sprints, LaShawn Merritt is back, unfortunately so is Justin Gatlin, Allyson Felix is faster than you thought, and Walter Dix is still pretty good.

Women's 800: Pamelo Jelimo Runs 1:56 As Ethiopian Teen Fantu Magiso Sets New National Record
The results don't tell the whole story to the women's 800. Yes, the big story was that the Olympic champ in Pamela Jelimo did follow up her world indoor crown with a 1:56.94 world leading win to establish herself as the Olympic favorite.

However, a sub plot to the main story was that at least one of Jelimo's competitors isn't going to conceded anything to her.

After the rabbit took the first 400 in 57.63 (Jelimo was probably 58 mid), the runners headed around the turn and started down the backstretch. Jelimo was in the lead and many just assumed she'd coast to victory.

Not so fast. Ethiopian teenager Fantu Magiso made a big move about 550 into the race and took the lead as she hit 600 in 1:26.37.

The big 3rd 200 would prove to be a bit too much for Magiso as Jelimo would regain the lead around 750 and pull away to get a near full second victory in 1:56.94 to Magiso's 1:57.90, which is a new Ethiopian national record by a ton (We're not sure what the old record was but know no Ethiopian had done under 1:59.00 before). Beijing silver medallist Janeth Jepkosgei, who got bronze outdoors last year (in addition to gold in 2007 and silver in 2009) was a clear third in 1:58.50.

American Molly Beckwith's undefeated streak for the year came to an end but she broke 2:00 for the second time in her career as she ran 1:59.51.

Analysis: A 1:56.94 at the start of the outdoor season for Jelimo will likely make everyone except maybe Caster Semenya and Mariya Savinova start thinking about running for 2nd. That being said, people need to remember that in 2008 prior to when she ran 1:54.01 to win Olympic gold, Jelimo never ran slower than 1:56 in Europe. Everything was 1:55 or faster so she may not be quite as good as she was in 2008. Jelimo's time was the fastest since she ran 1:56.73 to win the world athletics final in September of 2008.

Our favorite saying about the 800 is, "You only have one move." That certainly was proved by Magiso who made her move in the third 200 instead of the 4th. That being said, we loved seeing the competitive naivety. She should be a big factor in the future.

1	JELIMO Pamela	KEN	1:56.94	WL,MR
2	MAGISO MANEDO Fantu	ETH	1:57.90	NR
3	JEPKOSGEI Janeth	KEN	1:58.50
4	SANTIUSTI Yuneysi	CUB	1:59.26
5	JACKSON Emma	GBR	1:59.37
6	BECKWITH Molly	USA	1:59.51	SB
7	SUM Eunice Jepkoech	KEN	1:59.94
8	LUKA Tintu	IND	2:01.09
9	KOECH Cherono	KEN	2:01.20
10	MANOU Tamsyn	AUS	2:02.75
	KUPINA Yekaterina	RUS	DNF

Intermediate times:
400m: Kupina, Yekaterina (RUS) 57.63
600m Magiso Manedo, Fantu (ETH) 1:26.37

Men's 800: David Rudisha Gets Seasonal Best As Job Kinyor Introduces Himself To The World
David Rudisha picked up a win and new seasonal best in the men's 800 as he ran 1:43.10, eclipsing the 1:43.66 he ran in Australia. However, Rudisha had to work a for this one as at 700 meters fellow Kenyan Job Kinyor was right on his shoulder.

There was no doubt who was the best over the final 100 but the story of this race may likely be that Kinyor is a real talent. Kinyor, who won the IAAF meet in Japan last week in awful conditions in 1:47.05, lowered his pb from 1:45.07 to 1:43.76 tonight as five of the top nine including third placer Andrew Osagie (1:44.64) of GBR set new PBs. It's worth pointing out that three-time global outdoor medallist Alfred Kirwa Yego of Kenya was in the B-heat where he struggled.

Analysis:
Who is Job Kinyor you say? Well the 21-year old ran 2:17.53 (1000m) back in July of 2010 as a 19 year old. Last year, he was 4th at the Kenyan champs.

Rank	Athlete	Nation	Result
1	RUDISHA David	KEN	1:43.10	WL
2	KINYOR Job	KEN	1:43.76	PB
3	OSAGIE Andrew	GBR	1:44.64	PB
4	REINA Antonio Manuel	ESP	1:44.65
5	MUTUA David Mutinda	KEN	1:44.66	SB
6	RIMMER Michael	GBR	1:44.86
7	BUBE Andreas	DEN	1:44.99	PB
8	HOLUŠA Jakub	CZE	1:45.12	PB
9	BALLA Musaeb Abdulrahman	QAT	1:45.19	PB
10	MADI Nabil	ALG	1:50.46
	KOSGEI Silah Kipkoech	KEN	DNF

B Heat

Rank	Athlete	Nation	Result
1	BOSSE Pierre-Ambroise	FRA	1:45.69	PB
2	EL MANAAOUI Amine	MAR	1:45.70	SB
3	MORADI Sadjad	IRI	1:45.98
4	MUKHTAR Mohammed	GBR	1:46.41
5	YEGO Alfred Kirwa	KEN	1:46.46
6	MANSEUR Nadjim	ALG	1:47.98
7	LASTENNET Jeff	FRA	1:48.60	SB
8	LAYACHI Mohamed Amine	ALG	1:51.19	PB
	AL QURIANI Obaid Abdulla	OMA	DNF
	ALI Belal Mansoor	BRN	DNS

Men's 100m: Justin Gatlin Beats Asafa Powell
Former world record holder Asafa Powell got off to a good start but did what he usually does when someone puts pressure on him - panics and loses - as drug cheat Justin Gatlin came from behind to get the win in 9.87 to Powell's 9.88.

Analysis: 9.87 is faster than Gatlin ran all of last year (9.95) as year 2 of the comeback seems to be going nicely for Gatlin.

Wind:+0.4

Rank	Athlete	Nation	Result		Reaction time
1	GATLIN Justin	USA	9.87		0.171
2	POWELL Asafa	JAM	9.88		0.134
3	CLARKE Lerone	JAM	9.99	=PB	0.172
4	RODGERS Michael	USA	10.00		0.159
5	CARTER Nesta	JAM	10.05		0.170
6	PATTON Darvis	USA	10.11		0.141
7	HARVEY Jacques	JAM	10.14		0.151
8	VICAUT Jimmy	FRA	10.28		0.173

Men's 1500: After Collision, Silas Kiplagat Wins As Asbel Kiprop Finally Breaks 3:30

If the first Diamond League 1500m is any indication track as to how the rest of the year is going to go, then field fans are in for a treat in 2012. The result itself was impressive enough with World silver medallist Silas Kiplagat triumphing over World and Olympic Champion Asbel Kiprop in 3:29.63 to 3:29.78, the first sub 3:30 clocking in the world since 2010, and a personal best for Kiprop. The result however does not do this race justice as it also included a collision between Kiplagat and Kiprop with 100m to go.

So to recap, the first race of the year was faster than any race of 2011, had a battle to the line between the World #1 and #2, had a collision between those two, and still resulted in the first sub 3:30 clocking ever for the Olympic champ. The race was so fast American Russell Brown finished in 12th place and still ran 3:34.11 well under the Olympic "A" standard of 3:35.50 (Editor's note: That result reminds of this thread: Steve Holman Once Ran 3:33.60 for 1500m and Finished 14th).

Viktor Kipchirchir did a good job with the pacemaking abilities taking it out in 55.41 with a slight gap on the field (56ish) . He continued on fairly even paced at 800 in 1:52.06 with the field in 1:53.

Nixon Chepseba, Silas Kiplagat and Asbel Kiprop had been near the front throughout. At the bell (2:36) Kiplagat had the lead. On the backstretch, Kiprop took the lead.

Coming around the final bend Kiprop led, with Kiplagat just behind him. Just as they were straightening up to begin the kick for home, Kiprop was clipped from behind. He stumbled, lost his momentum, and was forced

outside, but he did not go down. However, it let Kiplagat go by and now Kiplagat was on the inside and in the lead. Kiprop regained his composure and challenged Kiplagat for the lead down the homestretch but Kiplagat had just enough to hold him off in 3:29.63 to 3:29.78. It was a 53.2 second last lap.

Kiprop and Kiplagat certainly showed why they are the World #1 and World #2. Behind them were three Kenyan compatriots with Bethwell Birgin setting a PB in 3:31.17, Nixon Chepseba in 3:31.32 and Collins Cheboi in 3:32.64. The first non-Kenyan was former Kenyan and world junior mile record holder Ilham Tanui Ozbilen in 6th.

Aussie star Ryan Gregson was buried in the field in 11th in 3:33.92 followed by American Russell Brown in a pb of 3:34.11. For them it was mission accomplished as the goal was the Olympic "A" standard of 3:35.50. Gregson will be on the Olympic team for Australia and now Brown will be if he is top 3 at the US Trials.

Behind them was the world's second best 800m runner Abubaker Kaki in 3:34.34. Kaki had run 3:31.76 last year and many were wondering if he'd soon make the 1,500 his primary event so this certainly was a disappointing performance for him.

Quick Take: Finally a sub 3:30 clocking for Asbel Kiprop. Kiprop had never broken 3:30, yet he did it in his first 1500 of the year, in a race where he almost got knocked down. Super impressive.

You cold tell that Kiprop really wanted to win this race, particularly after getting clipped, but at the same time he didn't look too upset once he realized he'd finally broken 3:30.

It's a good thing for the rest of the world there are only 3 Kenyans at the Olympics.

Rank	Athlete	Nation	Result
1	KIPLAGAT Silas	KEN	3:29.63	WL
2	KIPROP Asbel	KEN	3:29.78	PB
3	BIRGEN Bethwell	KEN	3:31.17	PB
4	Nixon Kiplimo	KEN	3:31.32
5	CHEBOI Collins	KEN	3:32.64
6	ÖZBILEN Ilham Tanui	TUR	3:33.32
7	GEBREMEDHIN Mekonnen	ETH	3:33.38
8	KOMEN Daniel Kipchirchir	KEN	3:33.43
9	DRIOUCH Hamza	QAT	3:33.69	YB
10	KIPTOO Eliah	KEN	3:33.81
11	GREGSON Ryan	AUS	3:33.92	SB
12	BROWN Russell	USA	3:34.11	PB
13	KAKI Abubaker	SUD	3:34.34
14	BOUKENSA Tarek	ALG	3:42.88
	KIPCHIRCHIR Viktor	KEN	DNF
	POLONET Vickson Naran	KEN	DNF
	KEITANY Haron	KEN	DNS

Men's Steeple: Paul Kipsiele Koech & Richard Matelong Run 7:56 As Brimin Kipruto Struggles
If you watched the race, you wouldn't know a new men's national record fell for Ethiopia in the men's steeple tonight as world championship finalist Roba Gari ran 8:06.72 for third to break his old record of 8:09.87.

We say you wouldn't know it because this race soon became a two-person affair throughout as Paul Kipsiele Koech, who ran the 5th fastest indoor 5000 ever this year at 13:02 and ran 7:57 for the steeple last year, and 3-time global steeple medallist Richard Mateelong, were up front from the get-go and finished nearly ten seconds ahead!!

Koech had the lead as the two approached two laps to go (5:52) and he'd never relinquish it. He blitzed his final lap in 60.70 to get the win in the fastest time ever recorded in May.

The defending Olympic champ Brimin Kipruto, who got silver at world's last year and had the world's #1 time, looked awful throughout and finished 12th in 8:26.59

Analysis:  It's a shame for Koech's sake that the Kenyan's don't hold their steeple trails not at altitude like they are doing with the 10,000 this year as Koech is seemingly the one Kenyan who runs well not at altitude but really struggles at altitude.

It's a little surprising that Matelong had never broken 8:00 before. His previous pb was 8:00.89 from 2009. Koech's 7:56.68 was just off his pb of 7:56.37. They are the 7th and 8th fastest steeples in history.

Previous fastest time ever run in May? Ezekiel Kemboi ran 7:58.85 back in May of 2009.

Rank	Athlete	Nation	Result
1	KOECH Paul Kipsiele	KEN	7:56.58	WL,MR
2	MATEELONG Richard Kipkemboi	KEN	7:56.81	PB
3	GARI Roba	ETH	8:06.16	NR
4	KIPCHOGE Jairus	KEN	8:06.72	PB
5	KIPRUTO Conselus	KEN	8:08.92	YB
6	NGANGA Bernard	KEN	8:11.00
7	KIRUI Gilbert	KEN	8:11.27	PB
8	CHELIMO Elijah	KEN	8:12.84
9	NDIKU Jonathan Muia	KEN	8:20.96	SB
10	KIPLAGAT Benjamin	UGA	8:22.94
11	RAMOLEFI Ruben	RSA	8:24.28	SB
12	KIPRUTO Brimin Kiprop	KEN	8:26.59
13	AYEKO Simon	UGA	8:27.13
14	TARIKU Nahom Mesfin	ETH	8:32.97
15	MUBARAK TAHER Tareq	BRN	8:41.42
16	AKDAG Tarik Langat	TUR	8:42.36
	KIPKOECH Robert	KEN	DNF
	KIPKOSGEI Nelson	KEN	DNF

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