Bednarek (19.67) & dos Santos (46.86) Rip World Leaders at 2024 Doha Diamond League

The 2024 Doha Diamond League produced a couple of statement victories in the men’s sprints on Friday as the USA’s Kenny Bednarek (19.67) and Brazil’s Alison dos Santos (46.86) ran world leaders in the 200m and 400m hurdles, respectively. Kenya’s Mary Moraa (1:57.91) also impressed in the 800 as rising Kenyan star Brian Komen (3:32.43) earned the biggest victory of his career in the 1500.

There were also wins for Beatrice Chebet in the 5000 (14:26.98), Freweyni Hailu in the 1500 (4:00.42 after almost blowing a huge lead), and Samuel Firewu in the steeple (8:07.25).

Full meet recap and analysis below, starting with the two biggest sprint events, then moving to the distances before foing back to the the sprints and field. *Compiled results

You can also get additional analysis but listening to our live video reaction show embedded below.

Men’s 200: Big win by Bednarek

Friday’s men’s 200m looked to be a showdown between training partners Courtney Lindsey (world leader at 19.71) and Kenny Bednarek (Olympic silver medalist). In the end, it was no contest, as Bednarek earned a statement win in 19.67 while Lindsey was a distant 2nd in 20.01.

Running in lane 7 with Lindsey on his inside in 6, Bednarek ripped through the turn with the lead and kept his foot on the gas throughout the home straight to run a 2024 world leader. The time was also a personal best, .01 faster than the time Bednarek ran to earn Olympic silver in 2021.

Lindsey, meanwhile, disappointed in his first career Diamond League 200. Lindsey ran 19.88 and 19.71 in his first two 200s of 2024, but could only manage 20.01 today despite good conditions for sprinting (85 degrees, +1.7 tailwind).

Bednarek’s time did not come as a surprise to him – he predicted he would run a world leader before the race:

19.67s – MR, WL, PB🥋

I’M COMING FOR IT ALL‼️ pic.twitter.com/fTNOuXjyHr

— Kung Fu Kenny (@kenny_bednarek) May 10, 2024

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Final, Wind: +1.7

Quick Take: The men’s 200 at the Olympic Trials is going to be fantastic

Bednarek was a bit banged up last year, missing time with a hamstring injury before USAs and citing overtraining issues at the end of the season. He still finished 5th at Worlds but missed the podium after taking Olympic and world silver in 2021 and 2022.

Still only 25, Bednarek looks to be healthy and better than ever in 2024, which should make for a great Olympic Trials. Between him and Lindsey, USA already has two men at 19.71 or faster this year, and that doesn’t include Noah Lyles or Erriyon Knighton.

“I’m back and better than ever. Last two years I was hurt. I’m here to go for the Trials and the Olympics.”

Men’s 400 Hurdles: Dos Santos makes a statement

Alison DOS SANTOS (BRA) Beats CJ ALLEN (USA) with a time of 46.86 in the men’s 400M at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Doha on May 10
MARISE NASSOUR FOR DIAMOND LEAGUE AG

2022 world champion Alison Dos Santos is in fine form to begin his 2024 outdoor campaign.  Dos Santos was sensational over the second half of this race and won in a world lead and meeting record time of 46.86, claiming the victory by a massive 1.52 seconds over American CJ Allen (48.39). This was the 15th fastest 400 hurdles race in history and the fastest season opener of dos Santos’ career –  some 1.55 seconds faster than his season opener in 2022, when he won the world title. Additionallu, it’s the fastest time ever run in May (previous fastest of 47.13 by Rai Benjamin in 202).

Video of race: 

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Distance Events

Women’s 800: World champion Moraa holds off Reekie

Mary Moraa (KEN) wins the women’s 800m with 1:57.91 at the Doha Diamond League on 10 May 2024.
CHIARA MONTESANO FOR DIAMOND LEAGUE AG

Reigning world champion Mary Moraa showed why she is one of the world’s best in a wire-to-wire win over a talented field in her 2024 Diamond League opener and second 800 of the year in 1:57.91 (#3 in the world this year). Sticking behind the pacemaker until she stepped off at 400 in 56.57, Moraa hit the brakes, splitting over 30 for third 200 after she took the lead, allowing Jemma Reekie and Habitam Alemu to stick behind her. Alemu and Noélie Yarigo moved behind Moraa on the final turn, as Reekie was pushed back to fourth and forced all the way out to lane three to try to make a move.

Reekie admitted after the race that she made a mistake not going with the move, and said it’s a lesson that she will take with her for the future, while Moraa commented on windy and hot conditions potentially holding her back. Reekie was on the shoulder of Moraa with under 50 meters to go but a strong last surge gave her a half second win over Reekie.

Moraa has been working on her speed lots this year running seven 400’s, including a 50.57 to win the African Games back in March. Reekie ended up second in 1:58.24, good for fifth in the world this year, while former Diamond League pacemaker and World Indoor bronze medalist Yarigo held on for third in a race where seven women broke 2:00. Moraa will get a bigger test in two weeks when she faces Keely Hodgkinson and Athing Mu at the Pre Classic.

Women’s 1500: Hailu goes out fast and holds on as no one breaks 4:00

World indoor 1500-meter champion Freweyni Hailu clinched the victory in Doha, running a time of 4:00.42. Taking close order behind the pacer, Hailu opened a considerable gap on the field through 400 meters before crossing 800 in 2:05.28 (3:52 1500 pace). But she would slow way down over the second half, and though she only ran 65.87 for her last 400, it was just rough to hold off a late-charging pack including Jessica Hull (4:00.82), Nelly Chepchirchir (4:01.19), and Ethiopian compatriot Worknesh Mesele (4:01.25). 

Pacer Aneta Lemiesz led Hailu through the first 400 meters in 61.87 while a sizable gap formed over the next 100m. From there, Hailu would continue to press on and ultimately hold on for the win despite showing visible discomfort after Lemiesz was relieved of her duties. 

Despite running 5.14 off her 2024 best (3:55.28 from indoors in February), Freweyni Hailu continues to make a strong case for her spot on the Ethiopian 1500-meter Olympic team, finishing ahead of fellow countrywomen Mesele and Hirut Meshesha, who finished fourth and fifth, respectively. 

Women’s 5000: Beatrice Chebet blasts the last 200

Two-time World XC champ Beatrice Chebet used her experience and kick to win against an extremely young field where 10 of the 17 women were just teenagers. In less than ideal conditions for a 5k with winds of about 15 miles per hour and temps in the low 80s, the requested pace was  14:30 and the leaders went through 3k in 8:43 right on pace. When the pacer stepped off it was 24-year-old Ethiopian Ejgayehu Taye who did most of the work, leading a pack of five into the final mile – although they had let the pace slip, running 4:43 from a mile and a half to two and a half, about 14:45 pace. 

By the final 800 there were three women remaining with Taye, Chebet and Medina Esa all together and after a 69.12 penultimate lap, Taye was leading going into the bell. With about 250 to go Chebet tried to make a pass on the inside of Taye, ran into her, and was forced to jump to the outside to make a hard pass with 200 to go, leaving Taye behind. Chebet won in 14:26.98, putting two on Taye over the final half lap thanks to a sub-30 final 200 and 60.98 last lap

Chebet’s close is further proof of how good the best women are in the world this year and the gap from them to the rest of the world. Leaving a 14:12 woman in the dust in that fashion is not easy, yet Chebet made it look like a breeze. A performance like this further cements Chebet in the gold medal hunt with Sifan Hassan, Faith Kipyegon, and Gudaf Tsegay.

Men’s 1500: There’s a new Komen in town

The breakout season of 25-year-old Kenyan Brian Komen reached a new high on Friday as he won his Diamond League debut in the men’s 1500 in Doha in 3:32.43. This time a year ago, Komen was a virtual unknown – his World Athletics profile lists zero results before April 2023. But he has quickly risen to among the very best in Kenya. Last year, ran 3:33.84 and won a couple of third-tier European meets. This year, he showed he was for real by defeating 2023 Worlds 4th placer Abel Kipsang at Kenya’s African Games trials on March 6 and again at the African Games final on March 22. Most recently, he ran a pb of 3:32.29 to finish just behind Reynold Cheruiyot at the Kip Keino Classic on April 20.

Brian Komen (KEN) wins the men’s 1500m in a time of 3:32.43 at the Doha Diamond League on 10 May 2024.
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In Doha, he was up against all of Kenya’s best – Kipsang, Reynold Cheruiyot, and Timothy Cheruiyot – and beat them all in an impressive run. Timothy Cheruiyot took the lead once the pacer dropped out just before 800 (1:53.88 for Cheruiyot) and he would hold it 1200 after a 57.82 third 400. 

Things were bunched at that point and it looked as if Timothy Cheruiyot might be able to turn back the clock and hold on for his first Diamond League win since 2021. But Komen, who had worked his way up to 2nd by the back straight, overhauled him midway down the home straight to claim a narrow victory, 3:32.43 to 3:32.67. Reynold Cheruiyot, who was badly boxed with 300 to go, made a late charge but could only manage 3rd in 3:32.96 as Worlds bronze medalist Narve Nordas was 6th in 3:33.87.

Quick Take: Brian Komen is for real

Timothy Cheruiyot, Reynold Cheruiyot, and Abel Kipsang was Kenya’s 1500m team for the 2023 World Championships and Komen beat all of them today. With the Kenyan trials just over a month away, he is a serious contender for the team.

We’d love to know more about his backstory given he had no races on his resume until age 24. The other thing to be cognizant of is that because Kenya is deemed a Category A federation by the AIU, any Kenyan hoping to compete at the Olympics must have undergone three out-of-competition tests by July 4, including at least one before May 3. Komen was not in the World Athletics global testing pool as of April 1, but hopefully the Kenyan anti-doping agency has been testing him after his 3:33 last summer.

Quick Take: Diamond League 1500s can still be fun without Jakob Ingebrigtsen

In recent years we’ve been accustomed to seeing Jakob Ingebrigtsen tow along Diamond League fields to fast times, with Ingebrigtsen almost always winning (he hasn’t lost a DL mile/1500 since 2021). It’s great watching Ingebrigtsen race, but the unpredictability of today’s race and the emergence of a new star in Komen was a reminder that a DL 1500 doesn’t always need Ingebrigtsen to be fun.

Men’s 3000 Steeple: Firewu earns first Diamond League victory

Samuel Firewu (ETH) wins the men’s 3000m steeplachase in a time of 8:07.25 at the Doha Diamond League on 10 May 2024.
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20-year-old Samuel Firewu held off a strong challenge from 2022 World Championship bronze medalist Abraham Kibiwot down the homestretch to claim the win in a world-leading time of 8:07.25 seconds. With his win, Firewu secured his first-ever Diamond League victory and lowered his personal best by 3.32 seconds from 8:10.57. 

As the race unfolded, rabbit Chemiat Wilberforce Kones guided the pack through 2000 meters in 5:24.83 (8:06 pace), leaving a group of five (Getnet Wale, Abraham Kibiwot, Samuel Firewu, Amos Serem, and Ryuji Miuru) to battle it out over the final 1k. Wale led the charge until the final 200 meters, where he was outrun by the charging duo of Kibiwot and Firewu. During the battle over the final 100 meters, Kibiwot spent considerable energy looking back to check the position of Firewu and was ultimately overtaken on the final barrier. 

For Firewu, besting Wale, his compatriot, signifies a significant step towards securing a spot on the Ethiopian Olympic team, especially considering Wale’s credentials as the fourth-placer at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and 2019/2022 Worlds.

2023 USA steeplechase team member Isaac Updike finished ninth in a time of 8:20.86, the fastest season opener of his career. Mason Ferlic, the 2021 Olympian who was set to run this race, did not start.

More Sprints

Men’s 400: Gardiner takes it comfortably

Running just his fourth Diamond League since the start of 2019, Olympic champion Steven Gardiner took care of business as usual, winning the men’s 400 in 44.76. Gardiner began to separate on the back straight and a late charge by Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga (2nd, 45.07) on the home straight was not enough.

Reigning world bronze medalist Quincy Hall of the US had a rough season opener as he was just 7th in 45.98, as 2024 world leader Bayapo Ndori of Botswana (44.10 this year) only finished one spot ahead of him in 45.57.

Women’s 100 Hurdles: Kambundji bests Marshall

World leader Tonea Marshall was outleaned by Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji in a time of 12.49 seconds to Marshall’s 12.51. Kambundju, the 21-year-old who finished seventh at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, earned her first career win on the Diamond League circuit. 

Final, Wind: +1.7

Women’s 100: Daryll Neita goes 2 for 2 in the Diamond League 

Brit Daryll Neita won her second Diamond League competition in as many starts in 2024 as she won in 10.98 in her off event after claiming the 200 in Suzhou. Americans Tamari Davis and Celera Barnes got out to a hot start but Neita flashed her 200 strength during the final 50 to win in a photo finish, holding off Davis in 10.99 and Barnes in 11.02.

Final, Wind: +2.0

Field Events

Women’s high jump: Topic bests Gerashchenko & Patterson

18-year-old Serbian Angelina Topic claimed the victory with a 1.94-meter jump (6’4). 

Her 1.94-meter jump bested the 2022 world champion Eleanor Patterson, who finished third with a best clearance of 1.91 meters (6’3). 

Men’s Discus: Kristjan Čeh wins on a windy Day In Doha

2022 world champion Kristjan Čeh won the men’s discus, breaking 70 meters for the first time this year with a big fourth throw. Čeh was not satisfied with the performance, saying that he is not in good shape yet, but was surprised by how long he was able to throw. Windy conditions in Doha helped propel Čeh to #2 in the world this year (70.48m) behind new world record holder Mykolas Alekna. Australian Matthew Denny finished runner-up throwing 69.02 , while Olympic finalist, American Sam Mattis, finished all the way down in seventh.    

Women’s pole vault: Caudery keeps rolling

In her first competition since claiming the World Indoor title, Molly Caudery of Great Britain jumped to the win with a mark of 4.73 meters (15’6). Nina Kennedy of Australia, the 2023 world champion in Budapest, claimed second, jumping 4.73 meters as well. 

Bridget Williams, who participated for the United States in Budapest last summer, finished in fourth with a mark of 4.63 meters (15’2). The 2016 Olympic gold and silver medallists weren’t impressive here as Ekateríni Stefanídi only managed 4.63 and Sandi Morris only cleared 4.53.

Men’s Javelin: Jakub Vadlejch Stays on Top

Olympic Games silver medalist Jakub Vadlejch won in men’s javelin, throwing 88.38 on his third throw, about a meter shorter than his world-leading mark of 89.51. In the process he dispatched Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, who threw just two centimeters shorter at 88.36. Vadlejch said his main goals of the summer are winning the European Championships in Rome and of course the Olympics in Paris.

Men’s long jump: Carey McLeod elevates to new level 

Jamaican Carey McLeod took down a strong field including reigning world and Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou to win. His wind-aided fourth jump of 8.52m put him in the lead and allowed him to hold on to the win despite two sub-par jumps to finish out the competition. McLeod, who has never medaled at a Worlds or Olympics in his career, is now firmly in the conversation for an Olympic medal later this summer.

Talk about the meet on the letsrun.com messaboard/fan forum:

• Official 2024 Doha DL Live Discussion Thread 
• Kung Fu MF Kenny 19.67

You can also get additional analysis but listening to our live video reaction show embedded below.