Doha Diamond League: Asher-Smith, Guliyev headline 200m line-ups
DOHA: Triple European champion Dina Asher-Smith and reigning world and European champion Ramil Guliyev will both launch their seasons in earnest over 200m in the Doha Diamond League — the first stage of the IAAF Diamond League on May 3.
Asher-Smith conquered the European stage last year, winning gold medals in the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay at the European Championships in Berlin. Her times in the 100m and 200m — 10.85 and 21.89 — were both British records and world-leading marks and the British team’s time of 41.88 in the relay was also the fastest time in the world in 2018.
“Last year was an incredible year and I would like to build on this in 2019 and 2020. I am excited to start my season in Doha for the first time and test out the track at the Khalifa International Stadium ahead of the World Championships. The female sprints have so many extremely talented women at the moment and I expect Doha to be a great race,” said Asher-Smith.
Asher-Smith’s rival will be Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou, who was in especially prolific form over 100m in 2018, winning 10 of her 11 races, including the Doha Diamond League in 10.85 – a time matched by Asher-Smith later in the season.
Ta Lou is one of the most complete sprinters on the circuit having won silver medals in both the 100m and 200m at the IAAF World Championships in London in 2017. She also raced extensively over 60m during the indoor season, setting a world-leading time of 7.02 in Dusseldorf.
Phyllis Francis went one better than Ta Lou at the World Championships in London where she splashed through the puddles to win the 400m title in one of the most unpredictable races of the championships. She will also begin her international campaign over 200m in Doha where her lifetime best of 22.42 could be put to the test.
Another reigning world champion heading for the Doha Diamond League is Turkey’s Ramil Guliyev who is headlining his specialist event.
Guliyev held off world 400m record-holder Wayde van Niekerk to clinch the world title over 200m in London in 20.09 before dominating the European Championships in Berlin last August. He smashed the championship record with 19.76, just missing Italy’s Pietro Mennea’s European record of 19.72 which dates back to 1979.
