Kenny Bednarek pips Andre De Grasse in thrilling 200m victory, Kenyans shine at Doha Diamond League
ByReuters
Published 28/05/2021 at 19:47 GMT
In the other highly anticipated race, Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the double Olympic champion and multiple world champion, won the 100m, putting behind her a disappointing fourth-place finish in Gateshead last Sunday. Fraser-Pryce, 34, ran 10.84 seconds ahead of Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare
Kenny Bednarek celebrates victory in the 200m, Diamond League, Qatar Sports Club stadium in the capital Doha on May 28, 2021
Image credit: Getty Images
American Kenny Bednarek edged out Canadian André De Grasse by one hundredth of a second in a scintillating 200 metres race at Friday's Doha Diamond League meeting on a night when Kenyans dominated the middle-distance competitions.
Bednarek was pushed all the way but won in 19.88 ahead of De Grasse whose compatriot Aaron Brown was third (20.25) on a hot and humid night in the Qatari capital.
Bednarek was delighted with the win even though he said he was "a bit nervous. But I am excited that I got in the first place. I'll try to be even better again the next time."
De Grasse saw the race as a step in the right direction. "I'll try to do better in the next one, and I am happy (to go to) Tokyo (for the Olympics)," he said.
In the other highly anticipated race, Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the double Olympic champion and multiple world champion, won the 100m, putting behind her a disappointing fourth-place finish in Gateshead last Sunday.
Fraser-Pryce, 34, ran 10.84 seconds ahead of Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare (10.90) with America's Javianne Oliver finishing third (11.03).
Kenyans dominated the middle-distance races on a night when athletes competed without spectators due to Covid-19 restrictions, although music from the stadium's loudspeakers provided some semblance of an atmosphere.
Men's 1,500m world and three-time Diamond League champion Timothy Cheruiyot ran a patient race to win in a world leading time of 3:30.48 to kick-start his season.
"It was a very good race, anyone could have won," Cheruiyot said. "My next focus is Monaco."
Australia's second-placed Stewart McSweyn ran a season's best 3:31.57, with Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali coming home third with a personal best time of 3:31.95.
In the women's 800m, Kenya's Faith Kipyegon nudged through on the inside to secure an impressive win with a time of 1:58.26 for the 1,500m Olympic champion and world silver medallist.
Jamaica's Natoya Goule finished second in 1:59.70 and Rababe Arafi of Morocco was third with 1:59.83.
"I did my personal best here in Doha, so it's really, really great to be here," Kipyegon said. "I am training so hard and hoping to do my best, so I am putting all my mind on it. The pandemic wasn't easy but we always try to be great."
Another Kenyan, 21-year-old Beatrice Chebet, won the 3,000m with a world-leading time of 8:27.49 sprinting ahead of Hellen Obiri, the twice world 5,000m champion, who faded towards the end of the race and finished a disappointing fourth.
Margaret Kipkemboi came second with a season's best of 8:28.27 while Lilian Rengeruk ran a personal best of 8:28.96 to finish third as Kenyans took the first five places.
"It's my first time winning in the Diamond League and here in Doha," Chebet said. "I didn't expect to win. I did well today and now I am preparing for the Olympics."
Chebet said she hoped to run the 5,000m in Tokyo.
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