Kenya’s Emmanuel Korir began his unbeaten campaign on the IAAF Diamond League circuit last year with
“I’m delighted to be kicking off my Diamond League season in Doha,” he said. “I’ve had a long build up through the off-season in Nairobi and can’t wait to race the best in the world once again. My aim is to be back here in October for the World Championships so it’s a unique chance to experience the new track.
Incredible run from Beatrice Chepkoech to set a new meeting record as she wins the 3,000m women's steeplechase at the Diamond League Final in Brussels. Congratulations to Norah Jeruto and Hyvin Kiyeng, who finish second and third; Emmanuel Korir clinches the men's 800m. #DLFinal pic.twitter.com/Fl4SM4JJTO
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) August 31, 2018
Korir moved to sixth on the world all-time list with 1:42.05 in London before winning the Diamond League title in Brussels.
Korir faces opposition from Botswana’s 2012 Olympic silver medallist Nijel Amos – the joint third fastest 800m runner in history – who handed Korir his sole defeat of 2018 at the African Championships in Asaba.
USA’s Donavan Brazier was one of the in-form runners during the indoor season and the 21-year-old will be making his outdoor season debut in Doha. Brazier set a North American indoor 800m record of 1:44.41 and broke the world indoor 600m best at the US Indoor Championships with 1:13.77.
ICYMI…@UTEPTrack’s Emmanuel Korir ran a world best 1:14:97 in the 600M. pic.twitter.com/rZQcn14nBQ
— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) January 23, 2017
Other standout names include multiple European champions Adam Kszczot and Marcin Lewandowski from Poland and the recently crowned European indoor champion Alvaro de Arriba from Spain.
There is also a strong Kenyan presence in the 1500m with training partners Timothy Cheruiyot and Elijah Manangoi both confirmed.
World champion
ICYMI…@UTEPTrack’s Emmanuel Korir ran a world best 1:14:97 in the 600M. pic.twitter.com/rZQcn14nBQ
— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) January 23, 2017
“I’m delighted to be kicking off my Diamond League season in Doha,” said Cheruiyot, who broke the 3:30 barrier for the distance twice on the Diamond League circuit in 2018. “I’ve had a long winter of training in Nairobi and I can’t wait to race the best in the world once again.
“My aim is to be back here in October for the World Championships so it’s a unique chance to experience the new track.”
Ronald Kwemoi, who won the 3000m in Doha two years ago, returns to action after a low-key season in 2018 while other leading runners on the start-line include Djibouti’s 2014 world indoor champion Ayanleh Souleiman and 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Abdelaati Iguider from Morocco.
Elijah Manangoi’s younger brother George, the world U18 and U20 1500m champion, also competes.