National champions Jordan Scott and Rushell Clayton are both set to compete at today’s rescheduled Doha Diamond League meet before rushing off to defend their titles at this weekend’s Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Championships at the National Stadium.

The meet in Qatar is traditionally one of the first on the seasonal Diamond League schedule but was postponed due to war in the Middle East.

Scott is the world leader in the men’s triple jump, while Clayton is ranked number three in the women’s 400m hurdles. Both their events at the national championships are set for Sunday’s final day of competition.

Scott, who won the event at the previous Diamond League stop, is set to face Olympic Games and World Championships gold medallist Pedro Pichardo of Portugal, who is set to make his first appearance this season. Lazaro Martinez of Cuba and Mohammed Yasser Triki of Algeria, who was third at the Bislet Games in Oslo, are also both down to feature.

Clayton, who was second in her previous Diamond League race, also in Oslo, faces world leader Emma Zapletalova of Slovakia, who lost once in her last four outings and has won the last three Diamond League contests. Gianna Woodruff of Panama and Kemi Adekoya of Bahrain are also expected to feature.

In other events in Doha, World Championships relay silver medallist Kemba Nelson is to contest the women’s 100m. Two-time World Indoor Championships men’s high jump bronze medalist Raymond Richards is also down to compete.

Nelson, who will be making her Diamond League debut, is to face a field that includes Patrizia van der Weken of Luxembourg, World Indoor 60m champion Zaynab Dosso of Italy and Anavia Battle of the United States.

Richards is set to go up against Qatar’s Olympic Games champion Essa Mutaz Barshim, Australia’s Yual Reath, Italy’s Matteo Sioli and Mexico’s Erick Portillo.

— Paul A Reid