TOP THREE FOR ROWDEN AND BRADSHAW AT 2021 DOHA DIAMOND LEAGUE

Daniel Rowden (coach: Matt Yates, club: Woodford Green Essex Ladies) was third in the men’s 800m in a time of 1:44.60 which was well within the Olympic qualifying standard. He sat in behind the pacemaker for much of the contest, heading the field as he entered the final bend.

However, as Wycliffe Kinyamal (KEN) pushed on in the final 150m to claim victory, a fast-finishing Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich also moved passed Rowden, but the British champion held on for the second quickest time of his career.

In the same race, Jamie Webb (Adrian Webb, Liverpool) was ninth in a time of 1:48.60.

Holly Bradshaw (Scott Simpson, Blackburn) earned third position overall in the women’s pole vault with her best clearance of the competition coming at the 4.74m bar. After clear progressions over the opening three heights, she was well in contention alongside Katie Nageotte (USA) and Sandi Morris (USA), but three fouls at 4.84m ended her competition as Nageotte won with a world lead at that height.

In her first Diamond League appearance, it was a fifth-place finish for European Indoor champion Keely Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter, Leigh) in the women’s 800m.  As Faith Kipyegon (KEN) put in a devastating kick in the final 200m, the rest of the field endured a hard battle to the finish as they chased her down to no avail, with the Brit crossing the line in 2:00.63.

Meanwhile in the 200m, Adam Gemili (Rana Reider, Blackheath and Bromley) produced a season best of 20.58 (0.4) for sixth. The race was won by Kenneth Bednarek (USA) who was triumphant in starkly different conditions to Gateshead a week earlier.

Results