(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The opening 800 metre race of the IAAF Diamond League season in Doha will be a perfect opportunity for fans to enjoy a battle of two greats, two reigning World Champions from Moscow 2013 - Kenyan Asbel Kiprop, who won the 1,500m, and Ethiopian Mohamed Aman, the 800m victor.
The Africans, who were among the biggest stars two years ago, are looking forward to the start of the Diamond Race, which will cement their preparations for the Beijing world championship later this year, at Qatar Sports Club stadium today.
"I expect very tough competition in Doha, that is why I am happy to be here," said the 25-year-old Kiprop, the 2008 Olympic champion who won his first of two world 1,500m titles in 2011.
The three-time winner of the Doha meet will gun for a repeat of his 2011 success when he won 800m even though it isn't his favourite discipline.
"I am not an 800 metre runner, but I am glad to be a part of the competition," said Kiprop, who holds the meeting record in the 1,500m at 3:29.18. "All the athletes here are big names with good personal records. This race will help me to gain confidence but also the speed for my main discipline. I considered that this is a better option for me than going to Shanghai [for the first Diamond Race 1,500m race] at this moment."
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Mohammed Aman, who already has three world titles to his credit €one outdoors and two indoor-is hungry for more.
"My main season's goal is to win the Diamond race for the third time, that is on the line with my ambition in Doha," said the Ethiopian, who is currently based in Oregon, USA.
In the 100m, focus will be on 2004 Olympic champion Justin Gatlin, who last year clocked 9.77 and 19.68 in 100m and 200m respectively. The 33-year-old was undefeated in 15 100m races and three over 200m, and won the Diamond Race over the shorter dash.
Doha will mark his 2015 debut in the 100m, but he's already shown solid form. At the IAAF World Relays in Nassau earlier this month, Gatlin (9.77 PB, 2014) ran the second leg in the USA's victorious 4x100m relay quartet that clocked a superb 37.38 run to equal their national and area records.
His opening leg teammate on that quartet, Michael Rodgers is also in the field. Jamaican colours will be represented by Nesta Carter, a two-time Olympic and world GOLD medallist in the 4x100m relay with a 9.78 career best to his credit.
Qatari record holder Femi Ogunode, who broke the Asian record with his 9.93 victory at the Asian Games in Incheon last September, will be on the track too. Ogunode will celebrate his 24th birthday on the day of the meet.
Doha's strong distance racing tradition continues with Mo Farah, one of the sport's biggest names, taking centre stage when he makes his debut in the Qatari capital for the 3,000m race.
Farah, who is the Olympic champion over 5000m and 10,000m, will find himself in the middle of the fierce rivalry between traditional distance running powers Ethiopia and Kenya.
The 2014 IAAF Athlete of the Year, Renaud Lavillenie will command the bulk of attention in the men's pole vault, and rightly so.
One of the sport's most dominant figures, the Frenchman has won 33 of his 35 competitions since the 2013 World Championships in Moscow where he was beaten into second place by Germany's Raphael Holzdeppe.
The German, who also claimed Olympic and European bronze in 2012, is also in the field. The 25-year-old, who'll be making his outdoor debut in Doha, has topped 5.91 twice in his career, most recently in Rome in 2013.
Allyson Felix has been a regular feature at Doha Diamond League for more than a decade. In that span, she has three wins in the 100m, two in the 200m and five straight in the 400m from 2007 to 2011.
This year she'll be chasing her 11th victory on the Doha track in the 200m event.
The three-time 200m world champion will face Murielle Ahoure (22.24 PB, 2013) of Cote D'Ivoire, who impressed with a pair of silver medal finishes in the 100m and 200m at the 2013 World Championships.
Others to watch include Felix's compatriots Shalonda Solomon (22.15 PB, 2011; 22.71 SB) and Tiffany Townsend (22.26 PB, 2013; 22.85 SB). Anthonique Strachan (22.32 PB, 2013; 22.89 SB), the 2012 100m and 200m world junior champion from the Bahamas, will defend Caribbean honours.
Olympic 400m champion Sanya Richards-Ross will be making her Doha debut today. Richards-Ross sped 49.66 last year to end 2014 as the season's second fastest, trailing only compatriot Francena McCorory (50.13 SB). There rivalry, which stretches back to 2008, will continue here, one McCorory leads 12-10.
In women's 100m hurdles, reigning Olympic champion Sally Pearson of Australia will go against Jasmin Stowers, the latest US rising star, who has already produced 12.40 and 12.39 performances this season.
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