FOOTBALL | Page 4 MMLBLB | Page 6 Sevilla, Moss hits Liverpool to longest left y face off for HR in Busch Europa title history, again Saturday, May 7, 2016 TENNIS Rajab 30, 1437 AH Nadal and Murray GULF TIMES set up Madrid semi-fi nal SPORT Page 10 ATHLETICS / IAAF DOHA DIAMOND LEAGUE Morris equals DL pole vault mark; Ogunode, Haroun third Barshim misses out on podium, while Qatar’s Abubaker Haydar Abdalla books ticket for Rio Olympics By Satya Rath Doha packed to the brim crowd, as many as 13 world leading per- formances, four meet records and a record-equalling feat Ain women’s pole vault marked the sea- son-opening Diamond League, the fi rst of the 14-meeting series at the Qatar Sports Club here yesterday. However, it was not a very satisfy- ing day for the local hopes, with high jump star Mutaz Essa Barshim leading the disappointment with a below-par jump. Sprinters Femi Ogunode and the up-and-coming Abdalelah Haroun too could only fi nish third in their respec- tive events. The evening’s highlight was Sandi Morris of US, who equalled the Dia- mond League record with her leap of 4.83 to win the women’s pole vault. The earlier mark was in the name of Greece’s Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou, set at last year’s Paris DL meeting. Morris did attempt a height of 4.93 in her fi nal at- tempt but failed. “I feel so good. I was feeling a bit tired and jet-legged. I landed here after a 20-hour fl ight and hardly had enough time to rest. So this performance in- deed feels incredible,” said Morris. The biggest draw of the evening, Barshim, proved to be the biggest dis- Sandi Morris of the United States equalled the Diamond League record with her appointment for the packed crowd as Qatar’s Abubaker Haydar Abdalla won the regional 800m race to book a ticket to Rio. PICTURES: Jayaram leap of 4.83 to win the women’s pole vault. (AFP) the Qatari, one of the country’s biggest medal hopes in Rio, bowed out from the competition after failing to clear the bar at 2.29m. After clearing 2.26 on his third at- tempt, Barshim failed to clear what should have been a comfortable height for him to continue with his winless streak in the Doha Diamond League American Erik Kynard, the Olympic silver medalist, took the top honours in high jump with a 2.33m clearance, fol- lowed by promising Chinese Guowei Zhang (2.31) with Marco Fassinotti of Italy coming third (2.29). Barshim, however, said he wasn’t disappointed. “It’s all part of the plan. This being the Olympic year, I am tak- ing things slow. Last year, I peaked early and by July I was practically dead. I am not going to repeat that mistake this year. The idea is to take things slow and Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim cleared 2.26m in the men’s high jump competition and said steady. I thank the fans for cheering me that he was taking things “slow” to peak in time for the Olympics. on. I promise not to disappoint them in In women’s 100m, Tori Bowie (second from left) of the United States won with a world leading and meet record timing of Rio,” the Qatari jumper, who won the low his personal best of 44.27, but he the fi rst time. The crowd and atmos- 10.80 to finish ahead of pre-race favourite Dafne Schippers (second from right) of the Netherlands, bronze in London 2012, said. didn’t sound overtly concerned. “It was phere was great.” It was also a disappointing showing not a bad race. I tried to chase LaShawn It was a Kenyan sweep in men’s of the season. I will go back home and Qatar’s Abubaker Haydar Abdalla won 110m Hurdles: 1. Omar McLeod (Jam) from Qatari sprinter Femi Ogunode, who but he was quite fast. Next stop for me 1500m with three-time world cham- just keep training hard. This is the Ol- the regional 800m race, not part of the 13.05; 2. Hansie Parchment (Jam) 13.10; could only fi nish third in men’s 200m will be the Eugene Diamond League,” pion Asbel Kiprop keeping his domi- ympic year and I want to peak by July.” Diamond League in Doha but serving 3. Orlando Ortega (ESP) 13.12 with a rather slow 20.10. Ameer Webb of said Haroun. nance intact with a world leading time Christian Taylor’s love aff air with as an Olympic qualifying race, with a Discus Throw: 1. Piotr Malachowski the USA won the race at 19.85, followed LaShawn said everything went as he of 3:32.15, followed by compatriots El- Doha continued as he won the triple personal best time of 1:45.28 to book (Pol) 68.03m; 2. Philip Milanov (Bel) by Panama’s Alonso Edward (20.06). had planned. “I executed the race as I ijah Motonei (3:33.67) and Silas Kipla- jump competition with a world leading a ticket to Rio. “I am so happy. I have 67.26m; 3. Victor Hogan (SA) 65.59m “This was my fi rst 200m race of wanted to. It was a bit humid today but gat (3:33.86). 17.23m leap, which came on his sixth qualifi ed for the Olympics and this is the season and I can’t say I am disap- the conditions were the same for eve- “I won’t read too much into this tim- attempt. It was well below the reigning also my personal best timing. I will WOMEN pointed. I made a mistake at the turn ryone. My focus is on the US Olympic ing as it’s just the start of the season Olympic champion’s personal best of train hard to improve further. It feels 100m: 1. Tori Bowie (USA) 10.80; 2. and that’s what cost me a better fi nish. Trials in July and I think I am on the and there’s a long way to go. I always 18.21 but was enough to take him past great to win before my home fans. Dafne Schippers (Ned) 10.83; 3. Veronica I am going to work on it now. I promise right track,” said the American. enjoy running in Doha. The crowd, as China’s Bin Dong (17.07) and Cuban Campbell-Brown (10.91) I shall push myself hard for a medal at The evening’s big upset came in always, was superb,” said 2008 Olym- Alexis Copello (16.98). RESULTS 400m Hurdles: 1. Eilidh Doyle (GBR) the Rio Olympics. I thank all my fans for women’s 100m when the up-and- pic champion Kiprop. “I love competiting in Doha, I love MEN 54.53; 2. Kemi Adekoya (Brn) 54.87; 3. being there and cheering me on,” said coming Tori Bowie, who won the In women’s shotput, Tia Brooks of the crowd, I love the atmosphere, and High Jump: 1. Erik Kynard (USA) 2.33m; Kaliese Spencer (Jam) 55.02 Ogunode, whose 200m personal best bronze at last year’s Beijing Worlds, US opened her outdoor season with a I am happy to win here again. This is 2. Guowei Zhang (Chn) 2.31m; 3. Marco Pole Vault: 1. Sandi Morris (USA) 4.83m; stands at 19.97. stunned the quality fi eld with a world personal best throw of 19.48m, in her where I got my fi rst 18-plus jump.” Fassinotti (Ita) 2.29m 2. Nicole Buchler (Sui) 4.78m; 3. Katerina It was also a not-so-happy outing leading and meet record timing of 10.80 third attempt, to win ahead of Hun- South African Caster Semenya won 400m: 1. LaShawn Merritt (US) 44.41; 2. Stefanidi (Gre) 4.73m for Qatar’s latest sprint prospect, the to fi nish ahead of pre-race favourite gary’s Anita Marton (19.22) and Emel the women’s 800m with a world lead- Machel Cedenio (TTO) 44.68; 3. Abdal- ShotPut: 1. Tia Brooks (USA) 19.48m; 19-year-old Abdalleleh Haroun, in the Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands, Dereli of Turkey (18.57). Brooks’ com- ing time of 1:58.26 to serve an early leleh Haroun (Qat) 44.81 2. Anita Marton (Hun) 19.22m; 3. Emel men’s 400m. Running his fi rst Dia- the reigning 200m world champion. patriot Michell Carter, the pre-event warning to her Olympic rivals. “My 1500m: 1. Asbel Kiprop (Ken) 3:32.15; 2. Dereli (Tur) 18.57m mond League race in his home city, Ha- Schippers came second at 10.83, fol- favourite, dropped out after her third next race will be in Rabat and I plan to Elijah Motonei Manangoi (Ken) 3:33.67; Triple Jump: 1. Caterine Ibarguen (Col) roun led for the better part of the race lowed by veteran Jamaican Veronica throw of 17.83. do three more races before the Olym- 3. Silas Kiplagat (3:33.86) 15.04m; 2. Yulimar Rojas (Ven) 14.92m; 3. before being overtaken by former Ol- Campbell-Brown at 10.91. “It feels great to start the season with pics. My training has been going on Triple Jump: 1. Christian Taylor (USA) Olga Rypakova (Kaz) 14.61m ympic and two-time world champion Bowie was ecstatic with her win. “I a win,” said Brooks, while adding that really well and I am feeling good with 17.23m; 2.