Along with youngsters from the neighbouring nation, the UAE and other Gulf countries were well represented in the event on Thursday at Dubai Sports City.

It was the second and final appearance for Doha Athletics Club in the league, with coach and former world champion in the 10,000 metres Liz McColgan appreciative of the chance for her athletes to compete.

“We’re the only athletic club in Doha that caters for women and international kids,” McColgan said. “This was a great opportunity to come and compete. We’d love to come over more, but we’ve made a start by at least coming twice.

“The way I got better was by competing at this level of competition when I was a child and if you don’t have such competitions, you don’t get the drive to be a winner,” she added. “I think it’s fantastic that people like myself and people like Lisa (Campbell, founder of Ultimate Racenight League) are trying to bring more and more of this type of competition to this area. We need it.”

Gabi Jason was one of the Doha athletes to pace the field, grabbing first place in both the 100m with a time of 12.75 seconds and in the 200m by clocking 26.33 – a personal best.

“It was a bit of surprise because I’m running up an age group, so I just wanted to do well,” the 14-year-old said of setting her PB. “It pushes me more, but I like it, I like to be pushed more.”

Sprint double: Gabi Jason (l).

 

Jason was one of two athletes to earn a Saucony voucher, given to the top performers of the night as decided by the coaches, along with Ultimate Athletics’ Utkarsh Raturi, who nearly swept the men U15 category by winning the 100m, 200m and 400m.

For the seniors, Kashif Taiyebi became the first repeat winner in the 100m among the men.

He held on to the crown, bettering his time of 11.67 seconds in the third meet by registering an improved time of 11.29 seconds. Taiyebi also showed his versatility by claiming the men’s seniors high jump with a leap of 1.6 metres.

Despite the success, Taiyebi still wants to test himself against better competition and is eyeing his personal best of 10.8s in the 100m which he hopes he can top in the three remaining meets of the league.

“I wouldn’t 100 per cent say that,” Taiyebi said of being the man to beat in the sprint. “I was actually expecting another person to compete who runs a near sub-11-minute time, so I was hoping he would be here.

“It’s my fastest time of the season so I’m happy to achieve that, but I’m still hoping for a sub-11 That’s my aim by the end of this league.”