The Wanda Diamond League in Doha, Qatar witnessed standout performances from Caribbean athletes on Friday, with Bahamian 400m Olympic Champion Steven Gardiner and Jamaican long jump finalist Carey McLeod emerging victorious in their respective events.
McLeod, who had finished fourth at the Xiamen meet, showcased remarkable improvement to secure the top spot in the men’s long jump with a wind-aided leap of 8.52m. Despite a faltering start, McLeod soared to victory on his fourth attempt, outperforming Greece’s Olympic and World champion Miltiadis Tentoglou. Bahamian LaQuan Nairn also put up a commendable performance, finishing eighth.
In the men’s 400m, Gardiner continued his impressive early season form with a dominant display, clocking 44.76 seconds to clinch the victory. He surged ahead from lane five and maintained his lead throughout the race, leaving Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga and Botswana’s Leungo Scotch trailing in second and third, respectively.
Grenada’s Anderson Peters secured a third-place finish in the men’s javelin throw, showcasing a commendable performance against tough competition. Despite strong challenges from India’s Neeraj Chopra and Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch, Peters delivered a season’s best throw of 86.62m.
A breathtaking performance in the men’s 400m hurdles
Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos stole the spotlight with a breathtaking performance in the men’s 400m hurdles, setting a World Lead and Meet Record with a remarkable time of 46.86 seconds. Jamaican Natoya Goule-Toppin displayed a spirited effort in the women’s 800m, finishing sixth with a season’s best time of 1:59.74 minutes.
Despite fierce competition in the men’s 200m, Jamaican Oshane Hudson clocked a season’s best of 20.53 seconds to secure seventh place. American Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek dominated the event with a personal best and world-leading time of 19.67 seconds, setting a new Meet Record in the process.
In the women’s 100m, Britain’s Daryll Neita claimed victory with a season’s best time of 10.98 seconds, followed closely by American sprinters Tamari Davis and Celera Barnes. Jamaican Natasha Morrison delivered a season’s best performance, finishing seventh with a time of 11.37 seconds.
