Kenyans triumph: Kiprop, Sum and Obiri dominate at the IAAF Doha Diamond League

By Game yetu

DOHA

Two time World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop produced one of his finest runs at the opening 2014 IAAF Diamond League meeting in Doha, Qatar, on Friday confirming his intent to make an attempt on the world record in Monaco later in July.

The lanky miler won a pulverising 1500m race which saw a record six men finish inside 3:31.00. He clocked a world-leading 3:29.18, a meet record.

Kiprop’s compatriot Hellen Obiri also set an African and Diamond League record of 8:20.68 in the final event of the day, a 3000m, which saw Ethiopia’s World Indoor champion Genzebe Dibaba run a personal best which was only good enough for sixth place. It was enough joy for the large Kenyan community at the Qatar Sports Club.

At the bell in the 1500m, Kiprop was covering the leader, James Magut, and in the back straight he moved to the front along with Djibouti’s World Indoor 1,500m champion and World 800m bronze medallist, Ayanleh Souleiman.

For about 100 metres, the tall, black-shirted Kenyan and his smaller, more obviously powerful opponent ran together before Kiprop loped away clear in the final 40 metres.

Kiprop’s compatriot Silas Kiplagat, who had set the meeting record of 3:29.63 the previous year, moved through to take second place in 3:29.70, with Souleiman being rewarded in third place with a national record of 3:30.16.

Finishing order

Olympic champion Taoufik Makhloufi, in what was only his sixth race since winning the Olympic title in London, the Algerian was fourth in a personal best of 3:30.40, ahead of Magut, who also clocked a personal best with 3:30.61. Aman Wote’s sixth place earned him an Ethiopian record of 3:30.86.

Kiprop and the entire Kenyan squad arrived Nairobi yesterday morning and watched the Athletics Kenya track and field meeting at Nyayo Stadium.

With David Rudisha, Kenya’s 800m world record-holder, absent with injury, two super-talented 20-year-old challengers, Mohammed Aman and Nijel Amos, produced a classic finish before Aman, who has taken world indoor and outdoor titles in Rudisha’s absence, prevailed in 1:44.49 in a race where no Diamond Race points were at stake.

Early leader Jeremiah Mutai of Kenya led into the final straight, but as Aman set himself up to challenge, Amos — who took silver behind Rudisha at the London 2012 Olympics in a time of 1:41.73, equalling the third best ever — moved into the lead round the outside.

The two young athletes, teeth bared with effort, raced together over the final 40m, with the Botswana athlete narrowly ahead.

But in the final five metres his rival found the energy to surge ahead, to the delight of the huge contingent of flag-waving Ethiopian fans in the full 15,000-seater Qatar Sports Club stadium.

Amos had to settle for a season’s best of 1:44.54 in second place. Never mind. As a part-time DJ back home, he has his first album coming out next week.

— Jonathan Komen, Elizabeth Mburugu and IAAF