It’s 15 years since Asafa Powell led the way at the first ever Diamond League meeting
This month marks 15 years since “a new era in global athletics” was ushered in with the staging of the inaugural IAAF Diamond League Meeting in Qatar.
The project, which replaced the six-meeting Golden League, didn’t receive much fanfare in AW at the time, with a relatively small article previewing the action. There was much to focus on on British shores at the time, however, given that many of the world’s biggest names were about to descend on Manchester for the now much missed CityGames.
When it came to that first Diamond League, staged on May 14, it was Asafa Powell who created the headlines. As Steven Mills reported in the following issue of AW, the Jamaican “boldly predicted he can challenge Usain Bolt’s world 100m record of 9.58”, having powered to victory in the Qatari capital.
Having eased through his heat in a wind-assisted 9.75 (2.6), even a slow start in the final couldn’t stop Powell as he came through in the closing 30m to win in another wind-aided mark of 9.81 (+2.3).
“The gun was too quick for me in the final,” he said, explaining that poor start. “But it is a very good time for the first race of the season.”
Another star name to prevail was Allyson Felix, who beat a world-class field that included then Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu, in the women’s 400m.
“Eliud Kipchoge’s world-leading run in the 5000m was arguably the most impressive distance performance,” wrote Mills. “Seemingly untroubled by the 31C temperature and ambitious pacemaking in the opening stages, the former world 5000m champion outsprinted fellow Kenyan Vincent Chepkok in the final 120m to claim victory in 12:51.21.”
On the track, there were also wins for then world junior champion David Rudisha (men’s 800m), Olympic champion Nancy Langat (women’s 1500m), world and Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi (men’s 3000m steeplechase), Kerron Stewart (women’s 200m), Lolo Jones (100m hurdles), and Bershawn Jackson (400m hurdles).
In an echo of the current climate, there was some consternation around the staging of field events, however. The shot put was won by world champion in Christian Cantwell with 21.82m but he was not overly pleased with the four-series format.
He said: “It’s good to win the first one and get a world lead, but I wish we had six throws because I had more in the tank.”
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