Nesta Carter competes in the men's 100 metres heats in Daegu (© Getty Images)
Doha, QatarIt will be another chapter in the Jamaica vs U.S. sprint rivalry when the 2012 Samsung Diamond League kicks off in Doha on Friday 11 May.
Organisers today announced a line-up that will certainly put Olusoji Fasuba’s six-year-old 9.85 100m meeting (and African) record in jeopardy with Jamaicans Asafa Powell and Nesta Carter, the third and fourth fastest sprinters of all time, toeing the line.
Powell, the former World record holder before Usain Bolt stormed in the athletics scene, ran 9.75 and 9.81 in Doha in 2010 but were aided by excessive winds, thus not eligible as records. Powell has a career best of 9.72 and Carter 9.78.
2004 Olympic 100m gold medallist and recently crowned 60m World indoor champion Justin Gatlin – still in his early 30s – leads the U.S charge.
Walter Dix, last year’s winner in the 200m and the Olympic bronze and World silver medallist in both 100m and 200m, will be looking to retain his 200m reign in Doha. The American, who ran a wind assisted 9.85 in the 100m last weekend, relocated to California this past November to train with legendary coach John Smith.
All four sprinters feel strong enough this season to be capable of dethroning “King” Bolt at the upcoming Olympic Games in London.
Jamaican golden girls threaten Felix’s unbeaten run
Double 200m Olympic champion and reigning 200m and 60m World indoor champion Veronica Campbell-Brown will be the woman to beat in the 100m dash, an event in which she has been crowned World champion at the youth, junior and senior level.
Olympic 100m gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will be a major threat to Campbell-Brown’s aspirations for victory in Doha. The 25-year-old just fell short of the podium at the World Championships in Daegu last year, finishing fourth.
Last but not least in value from the Jamaican golden squad is double 2008 Olympic medallist – second in the 100m and third in the 200m - Kerron Stewart, the tallest (1.75m) of the Jamaican charge.
Stewart along with Campbell-Brown, Fraser-Pryce and Sherone Simpson set a national 4x100m Relay record in Daegu to snatch silver behind a USA quartet that included Allyson Felix.
Local fan favourite Felix will return to Doha not only to defend her unbeaten status – a winner ten times in as many races on Qatari soil – but also the meeting record (10.93) she shares who Kerron Stewart.
Olympic champs Merritt and Taylor in a one-lap duel
The men’s 400m is shaping into another star-studded event. Beijing Olympic gold medallist and former World champion LaShawn Merritt will face twice 400m Hurdles Olympic champion (2000, running from lane 1 and 2008) Angelo Taylor.
American Danielle Carruthers, the world’s second fastest 100m hurdler I the world last season, will test in Doha her faculty ahead of the always demanding US trials. Carruthers, who set a personal best of 12.47 in Daegu to earn a World Championships silver medal, will have to hold off compatriot Kellie Wells, Doha’s 2011 winner.
Meeting director Abdulla Al Zaini said that he initially was a little bit worried that this season’s meeting might be affected by athletes’ Olympic Games preparations. “But everything looks set now,” he said.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s high jumping phenom Mutaz Barshim said that the Samsung Diamond League is a step in his preparation for this long season.
“This meeting is special to me because my family and all my friends have the chance to support me,” Barshim, who topped 2.35m last year, added.
Laurel International (organisers) for the IAAF
Samsung Diamond League - 2012 Calendar
Doha, QAT - 11 May
Shanghai, CHN - 19 May
Rome, ITA - 31 May
Eugene, USA - 2 June
Oslo, NOR - 7 June
New York, USA - 9 June
Paris, FRA - 6 July
London, GBR - 13 / 14 July
Monaco, MON - 20 July
Stockholm, SWE - 17 August
Lausanne, SUI - 23 August
Birmingham, GBR - 26 August
Zurich, SUI - 30 August
Brussels, BEL - 7 September
