Abderrahman Samba of Qatar celebrates after winning the 400m hurdles yesterday.
DOHA: Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba cruised to yet another victory at the Diamond League, shattering several records by marking his personal best in Stockholm yesterday.
The 400m hurdles specialists clocked 47.41 to create new Asian, Diamond League and Meeting records and maintain his unbeaten run in the ongoing season.
“I was looking for something big and I got that today, I’m very happy and excited for the rest of the season,” Samba, who also collected impressive victories in Rome and Oslo earlier this month, said after the victory.
“The weather was not great - it was windy on the back straight so that made us push too hard, but it was no problem and it was amazing to get the IAAF Diamond League record and a personal best today,” he added.
Samba overcame a stiff challenge from his rival Karsten Warholm, who finished second with his personal best time of 47.81, – also a National record for the Norwegian.
“It’s great we have raced in the last three races (with Warholm) - it makes it more fun and more exciting. Now I will get back into training and then I might compete in Paris at the next IAAF Diamond League,” said Samba.
Turkey’s Yasmani Copello ended up third with a time of 48.91.
Warholm, meanwhile, was also happy with his performance yesterday.
“It is always fun to get a personal record and to keep improving. I won the world champs (IAAF World Championships) last year so I knew that some of the guys will want to run fast against me this year so since then I have done all the work that I can and now we are seeing the results. But of course I still have some guys to chase,” he said.
“But I am getting closer each race so today I was pushing Samba. He was the better man, of course, but I felt like I did my job and I had so much fun especially with a PB as well you have to be happy.” “I spoke to the great Ed Moses last year and he said consistency is the most important thing and my coach has told me the same for a very long time and now I have been able to show it - with three good results,” he added.
“The perfect race will come sometime. I am pushing the limits all the time. Now I can recover and that is easy after such a good performance,” said Warholm.
Both Samba and Warholm will be battling out for honour in Paris on June 30 – the 7th meeting of Diamond League.
