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Thursday, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019

Star US athletes say it’s ‘cool’ to be at Khalifa International Stadium Tribune News Network Doha What a feeling!

As they say, first impression is the last impression! For star US athletes, who have arrived here for the IAAF World Ath- letics Championships Doha 2019, the very feeling of being at the refurbished and state- of-the-art Khalifa Interna- tional Stadium has been cool. American athletes – star 400m hurdler Dalilah Mu- hammad, defending women’s 3,000 steeplechase champion , Rio Olympics gold medalist and 400m hurdles sensa- tion Rai Benjamin – all were delighted to experience the innovative cooling system in- stalled at the stadium. The US squad, which ar- rived in Qatar on Tuesday, US athletes Rio Olympics gold medalist in shot put Ryan Crouser. defending women 3,000 steeplechase was indeed impressed with A woman stands in front of air-conditioning vents blowing out cold air into the Khalifa International champion Emma Coburn, Sensational 400m hurdler Rai Benjamin, and 400m hurdles record-holder all facilities at the Khalifa In- Stadium ahead of the IAAF Championships Doha 2019 on Wednesday. (AFP) while speaking to the media at the Khalifa International Stadium on Wednesday. ternational Stadium and ex- pressed their feelings at the I am actually happy that my “We are looking forward over four decades. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 media conference. parents will sit in the AC,” to more good experience in I loved the cooling system on my first visit. As a It famously staged the matches. Women’s 400m hurdles she said and smiled. the championships after that sprinter, the temperature doesn’t affect me much but I Amir Cup final in 2018 where The IAAF World Athlet- world record holder Dalilah US steeplechase star we will get the right idea,” the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim ics Championships Doha Muhammad said she had Emma Coburn said, “We she added. am actually happy that my parents will sit in the AC. bin Hamad al Thani was pre- 2019 will be the third major toured Doha earlier and was are very comfortable and I Rio gold medalist Ryan sent along with FFA President athletics event at the Khalifa Women’s 400m hurdles world record holder Dalilah Muhammad impressed with the innova- am very impressed. My first Crouser said he was happy Gianni Infantino. Stadium. tive technology at the sta- experience is that when we too. “The conditions are very It has also played host to It’s innovative cooling dium. “I loved the cooling walked at the stadium from good and we are happy.” done a very good job with the The Khalifa Interna- the 2006 Asian Games and system was also used during system on my first visit. As the car, we were super sweaty Star 400m hurdler Rai temperatures and it’s very tional Stadium – an out- has been completely redone the Asian Athletics Champi- a sprinter, the temperature but after reaching the venue Benjamin said it was great to comfortable to be competing. standing landmark of Qatar recently. It will also be one onships and Doha Diamond doesn’t affect me much but it felt very good. feel comfortable. “They have It’s impressive.” has been in existence for of the eight venues for the League, earlier this year. Dalilah Muhammad eyes record in World Championship tilt

AFP Doha Relishing the pressure

Dalilah Muhammad says she is relishing the pressure of trying to break her own world record as she aims to add a IAAF’s first female Vice President, former Colombian sprinter Ximena Restrepo, poses next to IAAF’s Presi- World Championships gold dent Britain’s Sebastian Coe following his re-election for a second term in Doha on Wednesday. (AFP) medal to her 2016 Olympics 400m hurdles crown. The 29-year-old New Yorker stunned the athlet- Coe re-elected IAAF chief, hopes ics world in July when she obliterated one of the longest- standing records in women’s next four years are ‘the fun bit’ during the US trials, storming to victory DPA/IAAF Newly elected members female vice president and that in 52.20sec. Doha she will be joined by seven other Muhammad’s display Newly elected members of the IAAF Council. women on council. This is a his- sliced more than one tenth of a Sebastian Coe was on Hiroshi Yokokawa (JPN), Antti Pihlakoski (FIN), Anna toric moment,” Coe said. second off the previous record Riccardi (ITA), Nan Wang (CHN), Adille Sumariwalla Wednesday unanimously re- (IND), (MAR), Abby Hoffman Coe is a former middle of 52.34sec, set by Russia’s elected as president of the (CAN), Sylvia Barlag (NED), Alberto Juantorena distance running great and in 2003, world governing athletics (CUB), Willie Banks (USA), Raul Chapado (ESP), double Olympic 1,500-metres and has led many wondering if body IAAF in an overwhelm- Dobromir Karamarinov (BUL), Beatrice Ayikoru (UGA). champion. He was chief or- the 52-second barrier may fall. ing show of the support from ganiser of the London 2012 Muhammad, a silver med- the federation’s congress, helpful when you’re driving Olympics, was a Conservative allist at the 2013 and 2017 which also approved the ongo- the sport forward,” said Coe. Party member of parliament world championships, is un- ing suspension of Russia. “I am delighted that we have 1992-1997 and has a life peer- daunted by the challenge of Coe, 62, received the votes for the very first time elected age since 2000. breaking hew own world mark. of all 203 member federations a female Vice President and “I’m always aiming to run at the IAAF congress in Doha. that she will be joined by seven China’s Wanda is new my absolute best,” Muham- The Briton succeeded other women on council. This sponsor mad said in Doha on Thurs- Dalilah Muhammad stunned the athletics world in July when she obliterated one of the longest-standing Lamine Diack in 2015, with Di- is a historic moment.” Coe pledged a strengthening day. “And it just so happens records in women’s track and field during the US trials, storming to victory in 52.20sec in 400m hurdles. ack now facing trial in France “I’m really honoured to of the one-day circuit and an- that my absolute best would over corruption charges, and take this position,” said Re- nounced China’s Wanda con- be another world record. champion , there is the biggest threat. has undergone major reform strepo. “It’s a great moment glomerate as new sponsor of the “It adds a little bit of pres- Sydney McLaughlin and Ash- “We don’t have too much efforts within the IAAF, with for me and for my country. elite Diamond League series. sure to the race, sure. But it ley Spencer, who have the sec- of a relationship,” Muhammad the focus now to shift to sport. “I think we, as women, now Coe’s second term how- makes you want to run fast. I’m always aiming to run ond and third fastest times in said of McLaughlin. “This was not an easy jour- have more opportunities than ever also starts with the ongo- It makes you want to go out my absolute best. And it the world this year, at 52.85sec “We’re very supportive of ney. The first four years have before. I just hope I can do a ing suspension of Russia, over there and prove what you said just so happens that my and 53.11sec respectively. one another I think we defi- been the time of change, the good job. I’d like to thank all of wide-ranging doping practices – so why not?” Muhammad “I can definitely say it’s the nitely see each other as com- next will be the time of build- the member federations who in the country, which started is buoyed by the fact that her absolute best would be deepest we’ve ever been,” Mu- petition.” Muhammad mean- ing,” Coe said. “I hope the next voted for me. I hope I can be all in November 2015. record-breaking run in Iowa another world record. It hammad said. “We push each while hopes that this year’s four are the fun bit.” that they expected me to be.” Congress approved an ac- came after a slow start. adds a little bit of other. We know that if any of race can produce another Ximena Restrepo, the Ukraine’s Sergey Bubka, cording recommendation by “I just need to be a little bit pressure. But it makes us have a mistake on any given lucky number. 1992 Olympic 400m bronze Geoffrey Gardner of Norfolk the council with a 164-30 ma- faster at each point,” she said. day you’re likely to not win. After setting the world re- medallist from Colombia, was Islands, and Saudi Arabian jority, with China among those “My race was pretty good. But you want to run fast. It “So if you’re not perfect or cord in July she realised that meanwhile elected first female Nawaf Bin Mohammed al Saud opposed. The IAAF Council the start wasn’t that great. makes you want to go out don’t run a good race, you’re her winning time – 52.20sec – vice-president in the federa- as the other three vice-presi- will be composed of 26 mem- “I think putting my better there and prove what you not likely to win. I enjoy that had a special significance. tion’s 117-year history dents, and six women among bers, eight of whom are wom- start with that race is going pressure though.” “You know what is so cra- Coe welcomed Restrepo, 13 elected regular IAAF coun- en. The 13 newly elected mem- to end up with a faster time.” said – so why not? The 20-year-old McLaugh- zy? My winning time was the who now lives in Chile, as one cil members brought female bers will be joined by six Area Spurring Muhammad towards – Dalilah Muhammad lin, who beat Muhammad in PIN number for my first credit of the new Vice Presidents and representation in the powerful Presidents and two members a possible new record is a phe- the Diamond League final in card,” she said. “I never even offered his congratulations. body to a record total of eight. of the Athletes’ Commission, nomenally talented pool of Zurich last month as well as thought about it until I ran that “Ximena is a former ath- “I am delighted that we have one man and one woman, in- American women who could dium in Doha. at the Oslo Diamond League time and I thought ‘Wow, that lete which is tremendously for the very first time elected a cluding the Chair. well end up sweeping the po- As well as 2017 defending meeting in June, represents used to be my PIN number.’”