Dozens of African running fans lined Doha's seafront to glimpse their countrymen vie for gold in the World Athletics Championships men's marathon, singing loudly and brandishing national flags.
At the halfway point, all six of the leaders were from Africa, and Ethiopians were first and second across the line while a Kenyan picked up bronze following the midnight event.
"We just came here to celebrate our athletes, from Laban Korir on, they're our Kenyans! We want to make them feel at home," said Cornelius Bor ahead of the race which finished in the early hours of Sunday.
Bor's friend Elliot Kirwa, a runner turned security officer, said "we are supposed to sleep, we are supposed to go to work -- but we had to come and cheer them".
"My duty is 4:00 a.m. but I will first finish watching them, then I will go there -- and I'm so happy, so proud of them," added Bor who then chanted "one, two, three Kenya!".
"(On Sunday) we have 10,000m, Julius Yego in the javelin. He will clear Khalifa stadium!" Nearby another group of men chanted and danced in unison, draping the Kenyan colours over an advertising hoarding.
Kenya's Amos Kipruto, who won bronze, told AFP his countrymen "gave me morale".
"This medal I dedicate to all my fans in Doha," he said. "When I win, Kenyans win."
- 'We feel at home' - =====================