Get set for an action-packed season as the 2015 edition of the world leading series, the IAAF Diamond League takes off on Friday, May 15, in Doha, Qatar, and is set to feature at least 12 reigning Olympic Champions and 10 current World Champions.
Nigeria’s main interest at the meeting is 2014 Commonwealth Games Silver medallist in the Triple Jump, Tosin Oke, who would be making his debut this year against some of the biggest names in the event such as world leader, Cuba’s Pedro Pablo Pichardo (17.94m), his team mate and World No.2, Alexis Copello (17.24m) and Olympic Champion, Christian Taylor who comes with a Season’s Best (SB) of 16.81m.
Nigerian born Qatari sprinter, Femi Ogunode, will be hoping for a good birthday gift in front of his home crowd as he races against the fastest man in 2014 and Diamond League trophy winner in the 100m, Justin Gatlin; Britain’s second fastest man in history, James Dasaolu, and the never aging Kim Collins, who currently holds the world lead in the 60m. Ogunode had an outstanding season last year and earned a place in our World’s Top 10 Sprinter’s in 2014.
Multiple Olympic GOLD medallist and 2014 trophy winner Allyson Felix, would hope to have her first individual win this year after coming 3rd in the 100m at the Jamaica Invitational behind world leader, Elaine Thompson and Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare, but would have to slug it out against 2013 World Championships double Silver medallist, Murielle Ahouré of Cote d’Ivoire.
The women’s 400m features a stiffer league of competitors as Jamaica’s Novlene Williams-Mills will begin the defence of her Diamond League trophy against current Olympic Champion and the first woman to go under the 50s mark this year, Sanya Richards- Ross; IAAF Continental Champion Francena McCorory and country-woman, Stephenie Ann McPherson.
The surprise entrant for this event is Zambia’s Kabange Mupopo, who clinched the Silver medal at the 2014 African Championships just six months into her foray in Athletics, which she combines with a football career where she serves as captain of the country’s National football team, the She-polopolo.Her exploits last year earned her a spot on our Five Breakthrough Athletes in 2014.
Doha fans will miss seeing World Record holder in the men’s Pole Vault event, Renaud Lavillenie in action, as the Frenchman pulled out of the meet after sustaining a minor injury to his shoulder when fell at the finish line while anchoring his club in the 4x100m relay at a national clubs competition in Lyon.
Other notable athletes featuring in Doha, are Great Britain’s double Olympic champion Mo Farah, competing in the 3000m, while 100m Hurdles Olympic champion, Sally Pearson (12.59s) who goes against the likes of last year’s race winner, Dawn Harper- Nelson(12.67s), world leader Jasmin Stowers (12.39s) and world No.2, Tiffany Porter (12.56s).
The Diamond League is a series of 14 meetings held in different cities across the globe and showcases 32 different disciplines, which are carefully distributed among the meetings, with the overall winner of each of the 32 Diamond Races carting away a $40,000 cash prize plus a spectacular Diamond Trophy.
As expected, Making of Champions will be bringing you special updates and reports ahead of, during and after each Diamond League event this year, with a particular focus on Nigeria’s sprints sensation Blessing Okagbare – Stay tuned!
Fun Fact about the Doha Diamond League
Nigeria’s Olusoji Fasuba, ran an amazing African and Meeting Record of 9.85s to win the Doha Grand Prix in 2006. He had never broken 10 seconds for 100m before that competition, but then clocked 9.93 in the heats before his record-breaking run in the final. Can Justin Gatlin shatter this 9-year old record on Friday?
2015 IAAF Diamond League Calendar
Doha, QAT – 15 May
Shanghai, CHN – 17 May
Eugene, USA – 30 May
Rome, ITA – 4 June
Birmingham, GBR – 7 June
Oslo, NOR – 11 June
New York, USA – 13 June
Paris, FRA – 4 July
Lausanne, SUI – 9 July
Monaco, MON – 17 July
London, GBR – 24-25 July
Stockholm, SWE – 30 July
Zurich, SUI – 3 September
Brussels, BEL – 11 September
