Doha, Qatar – Four defending Diamond Trophy winners shared their expectations for Friday’s Samsung Diamond League Doha 2011 competition at a media cocktail reception at the Sheraton Doha on Wednesday (4) night.

After welcome messages from IAAF President Lamine Diack and Abdullah Ahmad Al-Zaini, QAAF President and meeting organising committee chairman, Allyson Felix of the U.S., Teddy Tamgho and Renaud Lavillenie of France, and Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen spoke with members of the international media. Cautious optimism was the mood of the evening as each shared their goals for the weekend’s kick-off of the 14-meeting Samsung Diamond League series as well as their aspirations for the season which will culminate the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, Korea, in August.

Felix, the reigning three-time World 200m champion, took home a pair of Diamond Trophies in 2010, winning both the 200m and 400m during the grueling season-long series. Felix has an impeccable record in Doha’s Qatar Sports Club Stadium, winning seven times in her appearances over the 100m, 200, and 400m. It’s a record she hopes to add to when she lines up her starting blocks for Friday evening’s 400m where she’ll be chasing a fifth Doha victory over the distance.

“I just really love coming here,” Felix said. “The people are friendly, I love the culture, and it’s always warm here. Being from California, I love the sunshine. It’s a great place to open your season where you can count on that great warm weather.”

Felix said she’s not starting with a particular time in mind, but said that a sub-50-second performance was not out of the realm of possibility.

Lavillenie, who took four victories in Samsung Diamond League meetings in 2010, followed up with a superb indoor season this past winter which culminated with a new French indoor record of 6.03m at the European Indoor Championships in Paris. Like Felix, he expressed cautious optimism for his outdoor season opener.

“My first goal is of course the World Championships in Daegu but a big goal is of course the Diamond League,” the 24-year-old said. “I won it last year and I want to win it again. Of course another new national record is a goal too.

In Doha he’ll face a tough field, including American Brad Walker, like the Frenchman, a member of the event’s exclusive six-metre club.

“It’s a big competition for the first one but I can’t think about the other jumpers,” he said. “But there isn’t too much pressure because it’s very early part of the season. So I just want to have a good time here with the other guys.

Lavillenie said he took a three-week break after his European indoor triumph before getting back to work.

“I took three weeks of holidays and after that I came back to training. Preparation has been going well and I’m looking forward to the competition.”

For the past few seasons, Tamgho, still just 21, has been largely considered as the future of the Triple Jump, but after an exceptional 2010 season and stellar follow-up indoors earlier this year, the future appears to be now.

Tamgho claimed the World indoor title in Doha just over one year ago with a dramatic World indoor record leap of 17.90m in the final round. He sailed farther three times indoors this season, eventually increasing his record to 17.92m. That has left him brimming with confidence, but cautious as well.

“Yes I’m confident,” he said, “but I have to stay focused on my work and train hard to jump further than 17.92, or 17.98 which I’ve jumped outdoors.”

Widely perceived as the man who can finally take down Jonathan Edwards’ 18.29m World record, Tamgho insists that he’s under no pressure.

“(The World record) is not a question for me because I know that when I jump that, it will happen. I’m just letting the time fly. With my coach we are working to do 18 metres. I f I can beat the World record, I’m going to do it.” But distances aren’t his primary concern.

“First, I want to win all my competitions. Then I’m going to focus on my marks and distances.”

Thorkildsen, the reigning World and two-time Olympic champion in the Javelin Throw, also has fond memories of Doha, the setting for one of his seven majestic 90-metre throws. He too is looking forward to his return.

“In the first competition it’s always difficult to tell what the whole season will be like,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll be ready for something big. I’ve done well in practice. Depending on the conditions, it would be nice to throw a ninety-metre plus.”

He’ll be facing a slew of his leading challengers, but seasoned veterans, and young upcoming stars who began to make their mark on the event last year. Thorkildsen believes that it’s a rising crop of talent that can make his event particularly interesting in 2011.

“It’s always exciting when juniors are coming up. You never really know how far they’re going to take it. So this year will be very interesting to see if they can solidify their position, where they ended it last year and if they can keep that level. It’ll make for some exciting competitions.”

Bob Ramsak for the IAAF