Lolo: ‘The highs are still to come’
American comes back from injury with third-place in Doha Diamond League hurdles but says she’s saving ‘magic’ for later.
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| World indoor champion Jones is on the comeback trail after suffering sciatic nerve problems in 2010 [AFP] |
Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones predicted she was in for a “rollercoaster” season after finishing third at the Doha Diamond League – and said Qatar deserved to add the World Championships to the country’s growing sports empire.
Jones, who famously missed out on gold at the Beijing Olympics when she tripped on the penultimate hurdle, finished behind US teammates Kellie Wells and Danielle Carruthers in Friday’s 100 metres hurdles.
The 28-year-old, who defended her 60m indoor world title in Doha last year, said she would “pull out some magic” as she built towards August’s IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.
“People are asking me if I’m disappointed with the race but no, I was injured so I’m trying to piece things together,” Jones, whose sciatic nerve problems last year left her barely able to walk, said.
“I came out rolling last season with five wins in a row so I’m just doing the opposite this year.
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“At airport restaurant. Waiter asks what do i want to drink. i say, “water”. He says,” only water? no alcohol?” dang did he see my race too?” Jones post-race on her @followlolo Twitter account |
“It’s going to be a rollercoaster but stick with me, because I’ve pulled out some magic before.”
Friday also saw three-time world 200m champion Allyson Felix win the 400m, fellow American Walter Dix equal the meeting record of 20.06 seconds in the 200m and France’s Teddy Tamgho take the triple jump.
Ethiopia’s Yenew Alamirew clinched the men’s 3,000m steeplechase with a personal best time of 7min 27.26sec.
While those winners are one step closer to a shared $8 million prize pot over 14 Diamond League meetings, Jones told Al Jazeera she believed greater things could be in store for the thousands of singing and dancing fans – mostly Ethiopian – who packed into Qatar Sports Club.
Doha is up against London, Budapest, and an unnamed Spanish city when the World Athletics Championships 2017 are announced in Monaco in November.
“By then I might be tired,” Jones joked.
“But from the way they handled the world indoor championships and the way they’ve done this year they really should be one of the top destinations for athletics.
“They really listen to what the athletes want, they keep us entertained with things like camel races but they also give us space when we need it.”
Jones gave Twitter followers her thoughts on the night as she sat at Doha international airport preparing to board a flight to Japan, where she’ll compete in Sunday’s IAAF World Challenge meeting in Kawasaki.
“At airport restaurant. Waiter asks what do i want to drink. i say, “water”. He says,” only water? no alcohol?” dang did he see my race too?,” she said from her @followlolo account.