DOHA : Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino delivered a commanding performance to win the women’s 400 metres at the Doha Diamond League on Friday, while Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga produced a stunning javelin throw to finish ahead of India’s Neeraj Chopra.
Paulino, the Paris Olympic gold medallist, surged clear of the field to clock 48.91 seconds, finishing more than a second ahead of Poland’s Natalia Bukowiecka and underlining her status as the event’s dominant force.
“I wanted to open with 48 seconds and I succeeded,” the Dominican Republic runner said.
In the men’s javelin, 23-year-old Tharanga secured the biggest victory of his career with a throw of 88.68 metres on his fourth attempt. The effort left Grenada’s Anderson Peters more than two metres adrift in second place.
Chopra, a former Olympic champion competing for the first time this season after recovering from multiple injuries, managed a best throw of 85.69m and finished fourth.
“I’m glad I had a win today. It was one of my dreams to compete here as the first ever Sri Lankan in the Diamond League circuit,” said Tharanga, who recorded a season-leading 92.62m in Rome earlier this month.
Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali survived a late challenge from Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu to win the men’s 3,000m steeplechase. The two-time Olympic champion led into the final lap and held on before collapsing beyond the finish line after crossing first.
“There is no easy victory,” El Bakkali said. “It wasn’t easy today because of the weather conditions. It’s very hot, it’s not like racing in Europe.”
Home favourite Mutaz Barshim was unable to deliver victory for the Doha crowd in the men’s high jump. The Qatari, competing after returning from a long-term foot injury, cleared 2.27m but finished second behind Italy’s Matteo Sioli, who won with a clearance of 2.29m.
“It is a very good start to the season for me,” Barshim said. “I’ve been away for a long time, and coming back to the world stage is not easy after so many injuries.”
Ethiopia enjoyed a strong evening on the track despite disappointment in the women’s 5,000m, where Fantaye Belayneh fell while launching a final-lap attack. Her compatriot Medina Eisa capitalised to take victory.
Ethiopian runners also swept the podium in the women’s 1,500m, with Birke Haylom finishing ahead of Saron Berhe and Haregeweyni Kalayu.
World 110m hurdles champion Cordell Tinch claimed a comfortable victory after Spain’s Asier Martinez faded in the latter stages, while Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalova set a national record of 52.30 seconds to win the women’s 400m hurdles.
In the women’s 800m, American Addison Wiley surged clear in the closing metres and held off Olympic silver medallist Tsige Duguma to secure her first Diamond League victory in 1:57.98.
“I kind of just asked myself, how bad do you want this?” Wiley said. “Do you want today to be the day or do you want to get second place again?”
