Doha, Qatar — In a stunning display of speed and youthful prowess, 20-year-old Jamaican twins Tia and Tina Clayton dominated the women’s 100m at the Doha Diamond League on Friday, leaving legendary sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce trailing in their wake.
Tia Clayton blazed to victory with a world-leading time of 10.92 seconds, marking a significant milestone in her burgeoning career. Her sister, Tina, wasn’t far behind, securing second place with an impressive 11.02 seconds. Britain’s Amy Hunt claimed third in 11.03 seconds, while Fraser-Pryce finished fourth at 11.05 seconds.
For Fraser-Pryce, a two-time Olympic 100m champion and five-time individual world sprint champion, this race marked her return to the Diamond League circuit after a three-year hiatus. At 38, and in what is likely her final season, Fraser-Pryce faced fierce competition from the next generation of Jamaican sprinters she helped inspire.
“It’s incredible to see the talent coming up,” Fraser-Pryce said after the race. “Tia and Tina are amazing athletes, and they have a bright future ahead.”
Tia Clayton’s victory signals a potential new era for Jamaican sprinting. After reaching the 100m final and finishing seventh at the Paris Olympics last year, she is rapidly establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
In the men’s events, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, the Olympic 200m champion, clinched his signature event with a time of 20.10 seconds. Despite a smooth start, Tebogo acknowledged room for improvement as he narrowly edged out American Courtney Lindsey by a mere hundredth of a second.
The men’s 800m saw another Botswanan athlete shine. Tshepiso Masalela delivered a world-leading performance, chasing down Kenya’s Wycliffe Kinyamal to win in 1 minute 43.11 seconds. Masalela’s impressive finish cements his status as a contender for medals at the upcoming World Championships.
Returning from a two-year absence due to a doping ban, Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser made a triumphant comeback in the women’s 400m. The 2024 Olympic silver medallist claimed victory with a time of 49.83 seconds, rekindling the form that saw her win the world title in Doha back in 2019.
The women’s 3000m steeplechase provided an electrifying finish as Kenya’s Faith Cherotich overtook Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi just meters from the line. Despite the challenging heat and humidity, Cherotich clocked a world-leading time of 9 minutes 5.08 seconds.
In the field events, India’s javelin star Neeraj Chopra thrilled spectators with a personal best throw of 90.23 meters in the third round. However, he was edged out by Germany’s Julian Weber, who unleashed a stunning final throw of 91.06 meters to clinch victory.
“I’m happy with my performance,” Chopra said. “Setting a personal best is always a good sign, and it motivates me to push further.”
The high jump saw American Shelby McEwen surpassing expectations by clearing 2.26 meters, defeating Olympic champion Hamish Kerr of New Zealand, who finished third with a height of 2.23 meters.
The Doha Diamond League meet showcased not only the supremacy of established athletes but also heralded the rise of new talents poised to make their mark on the global athletics stage.
