Arguably the performance of the night came in the 400m hurdles from 2022 world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Alison dos Santos (BRA). The 2022 Wanda Diamond League champion - who owns the third-fastest time in history with 46.29 - improved his own meeting record with a world leading 46.86, his fourth-fastest ever clocking.
His performance in Doha was stunning and suggests an exciting year lies ahead for the event which has been dominated in recent years by Olympic and world champion and world record holder Karsten Warholm.
“I am really excited, it is a very good way to start things,” said the 23-year-old who returned from a knee injury last year to finish fifth at the World Championships in Budapest. “It is still very early in the season, we know that we have much work to do, so this result gives us a good, good vibe for the rest of the season. It is going to be very tough this year, so to start in such a fashion is so positive. The crowd was amazing too. I have three places in my heart, these are Zurich, Bellinzona and Doha. It always feels so special to be here and to compete before these fans.”
The USA’s CJ Allen was second in a season’s best 48.39 with Wilfried Happio (FRA), also with a season’s best, in third (49.10).
Against the impressive backdrop of the Doha skyline, the venue came alive with noise and colour long before the athletes entered the arena. That noise level intensified when crowd favourites won or challenged for the top positions.
In the women’s 5000m, Beatrice Chebet (KEN) - double world 5000m medallist and road and cross country champion - clocked 14:26.98 to smash the previous world lead of 14:36.70 and take the win to the delight of the vocal crowd at the end of the home straight. Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye and Medina Eisa finished second (14:29.26) and third (14:34.11) respectively.
“I did not know what to expect tonight,” said Chebet. “Every race is difficult and even more when you are at the beginning of the season, so winning here was great, I really enjoyed it and it felt even better thanks to the presence of so many Kenyan fans in the stadium. I also ran for them; it usually helps when they cheer for you and expect the best from you.”
An equally popular victory came in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. With five athletes in contention at the bell, anything could happen. The group was reduced to four as they moved down the back straight and to three by the time they reached the final 100m.
Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu came out on top after a sprint finish led to victory in a world lead and personal best of 8:07.25. Abraham Kibiwot (KEN) was second by the smallest of margins in 8:07.38, with Getnet Wale (ETH) third in 8:09.69; both ran season’s best times.
The men’s 200m also delivered a world leading performance as Kenneth Bednarek (USA) ran a personal best and meeting record of 19.67 (+1.7m/s) to take the win from training partner Courtney Lindsey (USA), the previous world leader, in 20.01. Making it an American 1-2-3, Kyree King took third in 20.21.
Bednarek - whose previous best of 19.68 was good enough for Olympic silver in Tokyo - said: “I knew I was in good shape because my teammates would push me on in practice. We are happy for each other, I am happy for them, they are happy for me, that is all that matters.”
In addition to the world leading and meeting record performances, highlights came from across the programme.
The Doha javelin competition has built a reputation for its high quality in recent years and this year was no different.
In a repeat of 2022’s memorable meeting, reigning Olympic, world and Asian Games javelin champion Neeraj Chopra (IND) – one of the most popular figures to compete at the Qatar Sports Club - came up against former world champion Anderson Peters (GRN) and Olympic and world medallist Jakub Vadlejch (CZE).
On this occasion, 2023 Wanda Diamond League champion Vadlejch came out on top with a best effort of 88.38m, only two centimetres further than Chopra who finished second with 88.36m. Peters, who delivered a national record and the fifth-longest throw in history with victory in 2022 (93.07m), matched his third place position of 12 months ago with 86.62m. In total, six athletes threw beyond 80m.
“Last year Neeraj (Chopra) beat me by four centimetres, so this was an even closer one and I am pleased that I won,” said Vadlejch. “Being in Qatar is one of my favourite experiences. This is one of my favourite stadiums in the world with a really loud crowd which helps us do our best.”
Chopra added: “The support I am getting from the Indian people here in Qatar is always amazing, there aren't words enough for me to thank them for their support. I feel really proud that I am an Indian.”
A strong tail wind early in the evening wreaked havoc in the men’s long jump but it was an exciting competition nonetheless as Jamaica’s Carey McLeod took the win with 8.52m (+5.2m/s). Olympic, world and European champion Miltiádis Tentóglou (GRE) was second with a season’s best of 8.36m (+1.9m/s) - one of the rare legal jumps of the evening - and Simon Ehammer (SUI) third with 8.30m (+2.6m/s).
“The result today was good apart from the wind,” said McLeod. “Everyone tries to push themselves; it is a great feeling...8.52m is amazing.”
Superstar Tentoglou was gracious in defeat: “It was my first event this year and I was not expecting much, I was prepared for like an 8.20m jump. I jumped a little longer due to the strong wind tonight, but when one is starting off his season this kind of wind can be dangerous. I had some trouble with it.
“The most positive thing I take from this event is that I really felt happy when (Carey) McLeod made the winning 8.52 jump...I enjoy it more at an event when another competitor makes longer jumps and pushes me for more. I am expecting similar jumps, around 8.20m or 8.30m, in my next events, too, as we are just starting.”
There was no doubt that the middle-distance events inspired the large crowd to sing, dance and cheer.
The Kenyan supporters went wild for their countrywoman Mary Moraa who led from the start of the 800m with Jemma Reekie (GBR) on her shoulder as they went through 400m. Reekie briefly challenged for the lead around the final bend and looked dangerous, but eventually finished second (1:58.42) as Moraa pulled away to take the win in a season’s best of 1:57.91 to the joy of the Kenyan fans. Noelie Yarigo (BEN) finished third in a season’s best of 1:58.70.
“This race was dedicated to the fans,” said the victorious Moraa. “Sometimes it helps us to compete in front of a big crowd from home, we get the support from them, so you can remind yourself to push very hard.”
The men’s 1500m also caused the noise levels to magnify.
Kenyan trio Brian Komen, Timothy Cheruiyot and Reynold Cheruiyot received an incredible reception from their supporters as they finished first (3:32.43), second (3:32.67) and third (3:32.96) respectively.
The two Cheruiyots, alongside countryman Abel Kipsang - who eventually faded to 13th - were almost inseparable at the bell, but as they moved into the final straight, trailing the wave lights which had been set at a world leading pace, Komen moved into the lead and stayed strong to take the win.
Australian Jessica Hull had the strongest finish in the women’s 1500m but despite her best efforts couldn’t catch winner Freweyni Hailu (ETH) who won in 4:00.42. The field had bunched together behind the pacemaker in the early stages, but they were soon strung out, led by eventual winner Hailu who went with the pacemaker while the others trailed in her wake. Hailu’s apparently unassailable lead had grown to three seconds by the bell but a group of three - Worknesh Mesele (ETH), Hull and Nelly Chepchirchir (KEN) - were working hard to close the gap. Hull took it on and finished second in a season’s best of 4:00.84. Chepchirchir took third in 4:01.19, also a season’s best.
Indoor world champion Molly Caudery (GBR) took the women’s pole vault win with 4.73m. She had a perfect card until that point before passing at 4.78m and having three failures at 4.83m. World outdoor champion Nina Kennedy (AUS) had an early failure at 4.53m but recovered to clear the next two heights on her first attempt. She also had three failures are 4.83m but finished second on countback in a season’s best, with Tina Sutej (SLO) third with 4.63m.
“The competition was very tough today,” said Caudery. “There was quite a strong wind, but we could handle it very well. Pole vault is about consistency, but I am really happy with the outcome. This is my first time in Doha. It is a great atmosphere and I love it here.”
In the men’s 400m, Olympic champion and former world champion Steven Gardiner (BAH) – the sixth-fastest man in history - delivered a smooth and confident performance to win in 44.76m.
“It is always nice to be here in Doha and I’m happy to be back after two years,” he said, acknowledging the ‘amazing’ sell-out crowd. “It was pretty good race today. I took control from the beginning. It was kind of windy at my back, but I just took control.”
Mazula Samukonga (ZAM) was second in a season’s best of 45.07 and Leungo Scotch (BOT) third (45.29).
Daryll Neita (GBR) continued her great start to the season with victory in the women’s 100m in 10.98 (+2.0m/s). It was a season’s best performance and impressively backed up her 200m win at the Diamond League in Suzhou, China. USA duo Tamari Davis and Celera Barnes were second (10.99) and third (11.02 season’s best) respectively.
Ditaji Kambundji (SUI) took the 100m hurdles win in a season’s best 12.49 (+1.7m/s) from USA’s Tonea Marshall in second (12.51) and Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska (12.53), also a season’s best. Olympic fifth-place finisher Nadine Visser (NED) didn’t start due to illness.
18-year-old European Championships bronze medallist Angelina Topic (SER) was ‘really happy and satisfied’ with her women’s high jump win (1.94m). Iryna Gerashchenko (UKR) took second with 1.91m on countback from Australia’s Eleanor Patterson.
In the pre-programme non-Diamond League discus 2022 world champion Kristjan Čeh (SLO) impressed with a season’s best of 70.48m.
