Felix lights up Doha with record 17th world title

Sprinters Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and American Allyson Felix bounced back from maternity breaks by winning iconic gold medals to light up the IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Khalifa Stadium on Sunday night.

First, Felix strengthened her legacy as the most decorated athlete in the history of the Worlds when she ran a 50.4 second split to help USA win the inaugural 4x400m mixed relay title.

“Very proud,” she told Daily Monitor moments after celebrating a new world record time of three minutes and 9.34 seconds with Wilbert London, Courtney Okolo and Michael Cherry.

“It was great to run with my teammates and represent my country,” said the 33-year-old after landing her 17th medal at the Worlds.

“It’s fun, it’s so different, it is good for the crowd and I think as time goes on, it will just get better and better,” she described the new relay event.

At the Worlds, one may equate Felix the ‘Michael Phelps of the Olympics’ or the ‘Pele of the Fifa World Cup’.

The gold on Sunday meant she eclipsed Jamaican legend Usain Bolt’s record of World titles by one at 12. She also has three silver and two bronze medals.

It is a big boost for Felix who had birth complications back in November. “I have had to overcome a lot and make it to this stage. It’s really special for me, it gives me some momentum going into next year,” she said.

As her celebrations faded, her friend Fraser-Pryce, who also gave birth in August 2017, clinched her fourth 100m world title in 10.71 seconds.

“She (Fraser) is amazing, she is my friend, and she’s helped me along this journey, we encourage each other and so I am so happy for her and it is very encouraging for myself.

“Everyone’s situation is different but she shows that it is possible and I think more than anything, she is an inspiration,” added Felix.

Meanwhile, the Ugandan trio of Benjamin Kiplagat, Boniface Sikowo and Albert Chemutai will line-up in the men’s 3000m steeplechase this evening.

Teenager Chemutai reached the final of the water-jump race two years ago and with a new personal best of 8:12.29 this year, he leads the trio. “The plan is to make it to the final first and then we see,” said Chemutai.

DOHA TITBITS
Shs60000 to watch athletics
The standards of living are high in Qatar. For one to access the Khalifa Stadium for the World Championships, they can purchase an ordinary ticket for about 60 Qatar Riyals (QR) which is about Shs60,000. A VIP ticket goes for 100 QR (Shs100,000).
Whereas the natives can afford this, they have showed less interest in watching athletics. It is instead the foreigners working here who have had more time for this with countries like Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, India, Nepal, Jamaica and Nigeria in the stands.

Magid Musisi a hero in Bursaspor
One of the mornings at the Media Centre for the World Championships, a man among a Turkish group of journalists was really excited upon meeting me. He quickly mentioned the name Magid Musisi.
The SC Villa legend is still remembered fondly in the city of Bursaspor. “They still write about him in books. Some fans still talk about him a lot,” said the 38-year-old. “I do not support Bursa but I watched Musisi and he was a great player,” he added. Musisi struck 31 goals in 77 appearances for the Turkish side between 1994-1997, the glory days of the club.

Anxious wait for Cheptegei
At every turn in the corridors of the media tribune or the mixed zone, one or two journalists from Kenya, England and Ghana will inquire about Joshua Cheptegei’s arrival in Doha. It is the same for some Ugandan fans living in Qatar.

The Ugandan long-distance runner is the nation’s star attraction and has had many here tipping him to win the 10000m title on Sunday. He however, flies out tomorrow and arrives in the early hours of Thursday in company of Abdallah Mande, Jacob Kiplimo and coach Addy Ruiter.

Compiled by Darren Allan Kyeyune
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