Dec 21, 2:30 PM UTC

The Marathon Project

Jan 10, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC

Phoenix Track & Field Invite

Jan 11, 2026, TBD

Kaye & JJ Smith Invitational

Jan 16-18, 2026, 4:30 PM UTC

VA Showcase

Jan 17, 2026, TBD

Susquehann Invite

Jan 17, 2026, 3:00 PM UTC

Moravian Track & Field Meet

Jan 17, 2026, 3:00 PM UTC

PSU T&F Invitational I

Jan 17, 2026, 3:00 PM UTC

Cardinal Track & Field Catholic

Jan 17, 2026, 4:00 PM UTC

Muskingum Meet #1

Jan 17, 2026, 4:00 PM UTC

Spartan Icebreaker

Jan 17, 2026, 8:00 PM UTC

GVSU Bob Eubanks

Jan 23-24, 2026, 9:00 PM UTC

Dr. MLK Jr. Collegiate Invitational

Jan 24, 2026, 12:30 AM UTC

GVSU Bill Clinger

Jan 24, 2026, TBD

Indoor Tour: Boston Indoor Grand Prix

Jan 24, 2026, TBD

Bruce Lehane Scarlet & White Invite

Lyles PRs, Semenya Breaks 4, Simpson Comes Up Short; Doha DL Recap

Lyles PRs, Semenya Breaks 4, Simpson Comes Up Short; Doha DL Recap

At the Doha Diamond League, Noah Lyles won the 200m, Caster Semenya broke four minutes in the 1500m, and Jenny Simpson came up short in her record bid.

May 4, 2018 by Kevin Sully
Lyles PRs, Semenya Breaks 4, Simpson Comes Up Short; Doha DL Recap

The Diamond League season kicked off on Friday in Doha, Qatar, with its usual array of world leads, season bests, and meet records. Across the board, the marks were impressive. The races themselves were entertaining, with some of the biggest names in the track and field going against one another in an early-season test. 

Here are the highlights:

Lyles & Ta-Lou Beat A Stacked Fields

After a 2017 season that showed great promise, Noah Lyles returned to the Diamond League in fantastic form. The 20-year-old ran a personal best of 19.83 to win the men’s 200m, beating his previous best time of 19.90. 

Lyles grabbed command of the race coming off the curve in lane seven and displayed his typical powerful form across the line. In the process, Lyles beat the gold and bronze medalists from last year’s world championships in the event. Jereem Richards, third a year ago, was second in 19.99, while reigning world champion Ramil Guliyev took third in 20.11. Andre De Grasse of Canada placed sixth in 20.46.



Marie-Josee Ta Lou kicked off her Diamond League campaign with a personal best of 10.85 to take the win in the women’s 100m. The race was quick across the board. Five women broke 11 seconds with Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor (10.90), Elaine Thompson (10.93), Murielle Ahoure (10.96), and Carina Horn (10.98) all running season bests. Horn’s mark was also a South African record. 

In the men’s 400m, Steven Gardiner ran 43.87 to break the Bahamian record. The 22-year-old is off to a record-setting start in 2018. In April, Gardiner ran 19.75, breaking the national record in the 200m. 

On Friday, he had competition from Isaac Makwala and Abdalelah Haroun for the first 300 meters. But those two couldn’t match Gardiner in the final straightaway. Haroun took second in 44.50, and Makwala faded to third with a time of 44.92. 



Semenya Breaks Four Minutes In The 1500m, Simpson Runs A Strong Fourth In 3K 

In her first race since the IAAF announced new gender regulations, Caster Semenya set a personal best of 3:59.92, breaking the South African record in the 1500m. The pace started quickly with the rabbit leading through the first 400m in 1:02.66. Semenya sat in the middle of the pack as the group passed 800 meters in 2:11.05. 

When the last pacemaker stepped off at the bell, Semenya sat in fifth place. She moved up on the backstretch and around the final curve; she latched onto the shoulder of the race leader, Nelly Jepkosgei. Semenya accelerated in the final 100 meters, moving clear of Jepkosgei and extending her lead as she crossed the line. Semenya’s final lap was just under 60 seconds. Jepkosgei took second in 4:00.99, and Habitam Alemu placed third in 4:01.41. 



In the women’s 3000m, Jenny Simpson came up short in her bid for the American record but made a valiant attempt to win the race nonetheless. After opening splits of 2:49.08 for first 1000m and 5:42.67 at 2000m, it looked like the time needed for the American record (8:25.83) would be off the table for Simpson. But that didn’t stop her from taking a shot at upsetting the deep field. 

With two laps remaining, Simpson took the lead; 200 meters later, she was caught, though Agnes Tirop and Caroline Kipkirui were not able to shake Simpson. 

On the backstretch of the final lap, Simpson pushed to the front again. In the final curve, she was passed again as Tirop and Kipkirui moved clear of the rest of the field. Kipkirui passed Tirop on the outside to take the victory, 8:29.05 to 8:29.09. Simpson finished fourth in 8:30.83, her second-fastest time at the distance. 



Nobody followed the rabbit, Bram Som, in the men’s 800m. This decision led to a hectic final lap. Elijah Manangoi (the 2017 world champion in the 1500m) and Emmanuel Korir were at the front of the pack around the final curve as chaos and jostling ensued behind them. 

Korir led into the homestretch with Manangoi chasing from behind. Korir held steady through the final 100 meters to take victory in 1:45.21, his first race since February’s Millrose Games. Manangoi took second in 1:45.60. American Clayton Murphy placed sixth in 1:47.22.    

In the men’s 1500m, Bethwell Birgen made a bold attempt for the win, but his huge lead was erased with 200 meters remaining. Taresa Tolosa of Ethiopia won the race in 3:35.07. Seventeen-year-old George Manangoi, the younger brother of Elijah Manangoi, placed second in 3:35.53.

Samba Breaks Diamond League Record, Harrison Edges McNeal

Competing in his home country, Abderrahman Samba dominated the men’s 400m hurdles. The Qatari ran 47.57 to break the Diamond League record and set a personal best. Samba has now run under 48 seconds twice in 2018, the top two marks of the year. 

Prior to this season, Samba’s best time was 48.31. Bershawn Jackson of the United States ran a season-best of 49.08 for second place.  



Based on their performances thus far, Friday's women’s 100m hurdle competition looked to be an exciting battle between Brianna McNeal and Kendra Harrison. 

McNeal, the 2016 Olympic champion, started well and had a lead over Harrison in the early stages of the race. The two separated from the rest of the field with McNeal still holding a slight advantage in the middle of the race. Harrison started to close the gap in the middle of the race and, when McNeal hit hurdle eight, Harrison was able to overtake her for good and take the win in 12.53. 



McNeal ran 12.58 for second, foreshadowing what could be an intensely competitive season between the two all summer. 

Harrison’s time is her fastest wind-legal mark of the season.

Barshim, Rohler, Pichardo Score Field Event Wins

Mutaz Essa Barshim cleared 2.40m to take the win in the high jump in front of his home crowd. The men’s javelin was a historically deep competition with Thomas Rohler, Johannes Vetter, and Andreas Hofmann all breaking 90 meters. 



Rohler got the win with a 91.78m throw, Vetter was second with a 91.56m, and Hofmann completed the German sweep in 90.08m. 

The Pedro Pablo Pichardo and Christian Taylor rivalry in the men's triple jump looks like it has been renewed for another season. Pichardo got the better of the two in Doha, jumping 17.95m to best Taylor’s 17.81m.