Diamond League Doha: Form and Medal Prospects of Athletes

Doha, May 05 (QNA) - Some of the leading names from the world of competitive athletics events will be seen in action at the IAAF Samsung Diamond League starting here Friday at the Qatar Sports Club.
Here is a preview assessing the form of the athletes from the 43 competing countries covering their best times, marks and medal prospects in each of the 16 events that the Local Organising Committee of SDL will be showcasing.
MEN S EVENTS
100 METRES: The current African record of 9.85 seconds was set in Doha by Olusoji Fasuba in 2006. Asafa Powell ran faster twice last year in heat and final, but the aid of a +2 m/sec wind annulled a possible meeting record. Fasuba remains the only sprinter with a legal sub10'' performance in Doha.
200M: Olympic bronze medallist Walter Dix doesn't own the sole sub 20 seconds personal best among competitors. Norwegian Jaysuma Saidy Ndure, who won in Doha under the flag of Gambia in 2006, covered the distance in 19.89 in 2007.
800M: Asbel Kiprop was crowned Olympic Champion in 2008 in the 1500m race but he didn t hear the Kenyan national anthem on Bird s Nest. It was later revealed that original winner Eashid Ramzi was tested positive for CERA and thus the gold medal passed to Kiprop. Former 800m World Champion Alfred Kirwa Yego failed to win in Doha in his three previous attempts.
1,500M: The starting list is dominated 75 percent by Kenyan runners (9 out of 12), but the most successful of all competitors is Moroccan Abdalaati Iguider who finished second at last year's World Indoor Championships in Doha.