15 years have passed since Asafa Powell opened the way at the first meeting of the Diamond League
This month marks 15 years since “a new era in global athletics” was introduced with the staging of the inaugural meeting of the IAAF Diamond League in Qatar.
The project, which replaced the meeting of the Golden League meeting of the six meetings, did not receive much fanfare in Aw At that time, with a relatively small article preview of the action. However, there was much to focus on the British coast at that time, since many of the most important names in the world were about to descend in Manchester for the now very lost Citygames.
When it was that first diamond league, it spent May 14, it was Asafa Powell who created the headlines. As Steven Mills reported in the next edition of AwJamaican “boldly predicted that he can challenge the world record of 100m of Usain Bolt of 9.58”, since he took victory in the capital of Qatar.
Having decreased through its heat by 9.75 assisted by the wind (2.6), even a slow beginning in the final could not stop Powell when he arrived at the close of 30 m to win in another wind -assisted brand or 9.81 (+2.3).
“The weapon was too fast for me in the final,” he said, explaining that the poor begin. “But it is a very good time for the first race of the season.”
Another name of the star to prevail was Allyson Felix, who beat a world -class field that included the then Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu, in the 400m female.
“The World Kipchoge world career in 5000m was the most impressive remote performance,” Mills wrote. “Apparently without problems for temperature 31c and the marked brands in the initial stages, former 5000m world champion beat his partner Kenyan Vincent Chepkok in the last 120m to claim victory in 12: 51.21”.
On the track, there were also victories for the world champion Junior David Rudisha (800m male), the Olympic champion Nancy Langat (female 1500m), the world champion and the Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi (Stewart of 3000m male), Carron Loles Hurdles) and Bershawn Jackson (400m Hurdles).
However, in an echo of the current climate, there was some dismay around the staging of field events. The bullet launch was won by the world champion in Christian Cantwell with 21.82m, but was not too satisfied with the four series format.
He said: “It is good to win the first and get a world leadership, but I would like we had six releases because I had more in the tank.”
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