9 May 2014

The 2014 IAAF Diamond League gets underway this evening with Doha kicking off the 14 stage series.

Among the British contingent getting their outdoor season underway is world 4x400m bronze medallist Eilidh Child (coach: Malcolm Arnold), who will face World Indoor silver medallist Kaliese Spencer, Olympic silver medallist Lashinda Demus and world silver medallist Dalilah Muhammad in the 400m hurdles.

World Indoor bronze medallist Andrew Osagie (Craig Winrow) will also face a tough challenge as he lines up against world champion Mohammed Aman, London 2012 silver medallist Nijel Amos in a world-class 800m field.

Jenny Meadows (Trevor Painter) will make her first outdoor track appearance since the Zurich Diamond League in September 2011 and will be looking to replicate the form that saw her win the Diamond Race title that year. The 33 year old will be joined by fellow Brit Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (Ayo Falola) as the duo go head-to-head with world champion Eunice Jepkoech Sum and World Indoor champion Chanelle Price. 

Chris Tomlinson will return to the long jump in Doha in a strong field, which includes Louis Tsatoumas, who boasts a personal best of 8.66m, 2008 Olympic silver medallist Godfrey Khotso Mokoena, world bronze medallist Luis Rivera and world silver medallist Ignisious Gaisah.

In the men’s discus Brett Morse (Andy Brittan) will test himself against the very best in the first IAAF Diamond League meet of the season, with world and Olympic bronze medallist Gerd Kanter, world silver medallist Piotr Małachowski, Olympic silver medallist Ehsan Haddadi all ready to set the field alight.

International interest tonight will come from Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the women’s 100m, LaShawn Merritt (400m) David Oliver (110m hurdles), Ezekiel Kemboi (3000m steeplechase), Piotr Malachowski (discus), Genzebe Dibaba (3000m), Valerie Adams (shot put), Catherine Ibarguen (triple jump), Olha Saladukha (triple jump), Yarisley Silva (pole vault) and a mouth-watering match up in the high jump with Derek Drouin, Ivan Ukhov and Mutaz Essa Barshim all looking to open up with a victory.  

The IAAF Diamond League in Doha will be on the BBC Red Button from 17:00-19:00

The UK will welcome the IAAF Diamond League on two occasions this summer, with the world’s best athletes coming to the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix on July 11-12 and the Sainsbury’s Birmingham Grand Prix on August 24. For more information visit: http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/british-athletics-series/home/