By N. D. Prashant/DohaThe Diamond League has lost some of its sheen due to the absence of some of the world’s top sprinters and other last-minute pullouts. But there is still a lot to look forward to.US sprint sensation Allyson Felix heads the stars’ list and after seeing the United States win both the 4x100 and the 4x400 at the Penn Relays, she is keen to make the most by chasing her fifth title in the 400m here.“It’s my first open 400m of the year. I’m excited to get the individual season started. I just love coming here. It’s a great place to open your season with the weather nice and warm,” said Felix who has won nine times in Doha, including a world indoor gold last year as part of the United States 4x400 relay team. The reigning three-time World 200m champion, however, has set her sights on the Worlds more than anything else this season. “Diamond League is definitely not my focus this year. I’m running less this year and not many 200 and 400 together. My focus is on the Worlds this year. These events are a part of my training and preparations for the Worlds.”Felix, however, is yet to decide if she will be participating in both the 200m and 400m sprints at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.“It’s definitely something I’m considering. It takes a big toll on your body. I’ll see how my training progresses and evaluate and see if it’s something that my body can handle. It’s a decision to make a little later in the year,” said Felix, who bagged a pair of Diamond Trophies in 2010.Felix’s compatriot Lolo Jones, taking part in the 100m hurdles, is yet to regain full fitness and comes into the race after a forgettable week. She went medalless for the third straight year in the 100m hurdles at the Drake Relays.“It would be huge to triumph just because it’s been a while since I won a race,” said Jones, who ended her indoor season prematurely due to nerve injury. “By this stage, I would have normally had seven or eight indoor races behind me. I’m still rusty after battling a nerve injury in the past few months. I still feel the pain at times. “But with the injury, I have no base. I need races and I’ve got a string of them to shake off the rust. “I’m not a Tyson Gay or Usain Bolt and race four times a year. I’ll race four times a week. My goal is to get better with every race and look towards Korea,” said Jones, facing a stiff challenge from American Kellie Wells.The two-time world indoor 60m hurdles champion has yet to win a major outdoor title and was keen to get that record straight.“I’m definitely happy with my indoor success, but I also have two national outdoor titles.“People see my Olympic failure and feel that I’m not so strong outdoors, so I’d like to go to Daegu and get a medal.”French hopes lie with Renauld Lavillenie in the men’s pole vault. Lavillenie has been at the helm of affairs in the Samsung Diamond League last season with four victories.“My first goal is of course the World Championships in Daegu but the Diamond League is also high on priority for me. I won it last year and I want to win it again. Of course another new national record is a goal too.“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,” said Lavillenie, whose main challenger will be American Brad Walker.Another Frenchman under the spotlight will be Teddy Tamgho in the men’s triple jump. The 21-year-old, after an exceptional 2010 season and coming from fine indoors results this year, starts as a firm favourite. “Yes, I’m confident but I have to stay focused on my work and train hard to jump further than 17.92m, or 17.98m which I’ve jumped outdoors,” said Tamgho, who claimed the World Indoor title in Doha last year with a stunning leap of 17.90m in the final round.He is now tipped as the one who could break Jonathan Edwards’ 18.29m world record. “The 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. If I can beat the World record, I’m going to do it. 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,” added Tamgho. Double Olympic, World and double European Champion Andreas Thorkildsen once again heads the field in the men’s javelin. The only person who could give Thorkildsen a tough fight is Petr Frydrych. The Czech was the only man to get within two metres of Thorkildsen last year.“In the first competition, it’s always difficult to tell what the whole season will be like. Hopefully, I’ll be ready for something big,” said Thorkildsen.Home fans will be banking on Femi Ogunode, the 19-yaar-old , to deliver the goods in the men’s 200m. Ogunode, who set Qatari junior records at 100m, 200m and 400m went on to become the 200m champion at the Asian Games in Guangzhou last year. The absence of some of the star figures from the 200m line-up presents him with a great chance. Ogunode, however, will be tested by Olympic bronze medallist Walter Dix and Jamaicans Mario Forsythe and Ainsley Waugh.The Diamond League also gives a huge opportunity for another aspiring Qatari youngster Mutaz Essa Barshim in the men’s high jump. Barshim took giant strides last year by becoming the Arab, Asian, World Junior champion before going on to win the Asian Games title in Guangzhou and is keen to make his presence felt here. “Last season was simply unbelievable but I have to keep improving. I have been working really hard with my coach and I’m keen to do well here as well. Whatever I have achieved till now is with hard work and I’m sure I can go way ahead if I keep doing so,” said a confident Barshim. The action starts at 6.15pm at the Qatar Sports Club.
DIAMOND LEAGUE FACT FILETotal budget: $50 million. Prize money: $8 million, season leader in each of the 32 events will receive a special trophy plus $40,000. The winners must compete in season-ending finals. Events: 32 (all Olympic events except the hammer throw) with 16 per meeting. Each event will be staged seven times on the circuit with top three finishers receiving points. Double points will be offered at the season-ending finals in Zurich and Brussels. Overall winners: The best male and female athlete from the 32 Diamond Race winners will receive the Diamond Athlete Award. The voting will be conducted by International Sports Press Association. Schedule: May 6-Doha; 15-Shanghai; 26-Rome. June 4-Eugene; 9-Oslo; 11-New York; 30-Lausanne. July 8-Paris; 10-Birmingham; 22-Monaco; 29-Stockholm. Aug 5-6-London. Sept 8-Zurich; 16-Brussels. Top athletes: Sprinters Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell and Allyson Felix; middle distance runner David Rudisha; high jumper Blanka Vlasic; hurdlers David Oliver and Liu Xiang; 400 meters runner Sanya Richards-Ross; javelin thrower Andreas Thorkildsen; and jumpers Teddy Tamgho (triple) and Dwight Phillips (long).
EVENT SCHEDULETime (AST) Discipline Men / Women Status 18:15 Pole Vault Men 18:20 Discus Throw Men 18:25 Long Jump Women 18:30 Shot Put Men 19:03 400m H Men 19:07 High Jump Men 19:13 400m Women 19:25 100m H Women 19:35 800m Men 19:43 1500m Women 19:46 Triple Jump Men 19:49 Javelin Throw 19:55 200m Men 20:05 3000m SC Women20:20 1500m Men 20:30 200m Women 20:40 3000m Men