Doha Diamond League 2024: Kenny Bednarek dominates men's 200m race, sets new personal best in win
Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek dominated the men's 200m race at the 2024 Doha Diamond League meeting on Friday (10 May), setting a new personal best of 19.67 seconds while winning at a canter.
Bednarek was the only man to go under 20 seconds with a strong but legal tailwind of 1.7m/s behind him as his rivals faded. His time was also a new meeting record in Doha and the new 2024 world lead in the event.
The previous world leader, Courtney Lindsey, began well heading into the bend but simply could not keep up with Bednarek's pace. Lindsey was the second man home in a USA one-two-three, crossing the line more than three-tenths back in 20.01 seconds.
Kyree King completed the all-American top three in 20.21.
There was disappointment for two-time Olympic relay medallist Aaron Brown of Canada as well as Liberia's Joseph Fahnbulleh, who both underperformed. Fahnbulleh's 20.26 was two-tenths off his season's best, while Brown will have been hoping for a better start to his 200m season than a 20.29 for fifth place.
"I knew what I was gonna run, I won [with] the world lead," Bednarek said. "I was just hoping that the weather would work with us and that is what it did. When I crossed the finish line I saw the time, I didn't know if it was the lead [but] they wanted to hand me the lead sign, so I knew I did it.
"Running this fast this early is really good, it means I will be fast by the time we start the Olympics. Time doesn't matter, my main focus is not the time but competting and making sure we get the job done."
Doha Diamond League 2024 - Men's 200m full results - Friday 10 May
Wind: +1.7m/s
- Kenny Bednarek (USA) 19.67 WL MR
- Courtney Lindsey (USA) 20.01
- Kyree King (USA) 20.21
- Joseph Fahnbulleh (LBR) 20.26
- Aaron Brown (CAN) 20.29
- Joshua Hartmann (GER) 20.36
- Andrew Hudson (JAM) 20.53
- Ján Volko (SLO) 21.23