1. Thomas Röhler – Javelin, 93.90m – 2017
2017 was an enthralling year in the javelin, as German stars Thomas Röhler and Johannes Vetter pushed each other further and further all season before Jakub Vadlejch sprung a surprise victory in the IAAF Diamond League Final to retain his Diamond Trophy.
It all started in Doha, however, when Röhler’s humungous 93.90m throw set a new Diamond League record, as well as the tone for a season of enormous efforts in the men’s javelin.
Röhler’s throw famously landed just a a few feet away from a camera operator, who would never have thought before the competition that he would be putting himself quite so close to the firing line.
2. Caterine Ibargüen – Triple Jump, 15.04m – 2016
Caterine Ibargüen has dominated the women’s triple jump for years, and in 2016, she won her fourth consecutive Diamond Trophy.
The successful campaign kicked off with a brilliant performance in Doha, where she jumped 15.04m to beat emerging rival Yulimar Rojas.
The win saw Ibargüen set a new meeting record, and extended her winning streak to 32 competitions. At the time, it was also the second best legal performance of her career.
3. Omar McLeod – 110m Hurdles, 13.05 – 2016
Omar McLeod was the name on everybody’s lips ahead of Doha 2016, with many predicting that the upcoming season would be a breakthrough year for the young Jamaican.
They weren’t wrong, as McLeod went on to win Olympic Gold in Rio. His incredible journey started with a brilliant performance in Doha, however, as he beat the likes of David Oliver and Aries Merritt to take a victory on his Diamond League debut.
4. Pedro Pablo Pichardo – Triple Jump, 18.06m – 2015
Doha 2015 has already gone down as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, men’s triple jump competitions of all time.
Both Christian Taylor and Pedro Pablo Pichardo cleared the 18 metre mark in an evening of astonishing jumps, the Cuban taking victory with an enormous leap of 18.06m.
It was the first time that eithe athlete had jumped over 18 metres, and they proceeded to exchange victories over one another in the course of an enthralling season. Despite a series of wins in the opening few meetings, Pichardo could not stop Taylor from clinching the Diamond Trophy.
5. Hellen Obiri – 3000m, 8:20.68 – 2014
Ahead of Doha 2014, Genzebe Dibaba was the firm favourite to take victory in the 3000m, after the Ethiopian had enjoyed a superb indoor season.
The script, though, was decisively ripped up when Hellen Obiri stormed to victory with one of the finest 3000m performances ever.
The Kenyan clocked 8:20.68 to become the fifth fastest woman in history over 3000m, putting in an astonishing last lap as she held off the likes of Dibaba and Mercy Cherono.