Four Diamond League champions from Kenya including Hellen Obiri will compete in Doha – the first leg of the 2019 IAAF Diamond League – which will be held for the first time in the state-of-the-art Khalifa International Stadium on 3 May.
Obiri, who will contest the 3000m in Doha, has already made history this year by winning gold at the IAAF/Mikkeller World Cross Country Championships Aarhus 2019.
In doing so, she became the first athlete – man or woman – to win titles at the World Championships, World Indoor Championships, World Cross Country Championships and the IAAF World Relays.
“It was a difficult race but I was determined to win as it was one of the few titles missing from my collection,” said the world 5000m champion. “However, my focus is now on the track.”
Obiri will be looking to start her track campaign on a high as she builds up to the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 from 27 September to 6 October.
“Of course I have great memories of Doha which is where I set my African 3000m record of 8:20.68 in 2014,” she said. “I am excited to race in the Khalifa International Stadium next month and I also look forward to returning for the World Championships later this year when I plan to contest both the 5000m and 10,000m.”
Obiri is unbeaten so far in 2019 but her winning streak will be put to the test in Doha. The Ethiopian contingent is headed by world indoor record-holder Genzebe Dibaba, winner of the 3000m at the past three World Indoor Championships.
Obiri also faces opposition from teammates Caroline Kipkirui – who won in Doha 12 months ago in 8:29.05 – as well as world steeplechase record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech and 2017 world cross-country champion Agnes Tirop.