By JONATHAN KOMEN

 World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop lived upto his hot-billing to win the second leg of IAAF Diamond League meeting in Shanghai, China, last evening.

Asbel, who has 3:28.88 personal best, capitalised on his long strides to chalk up the victory in 3:32.39 beating a surging Gebremedhen Gebremariam of Ethiopia (3:32.4), who boasts a 3:34.49 personal best.

Collins Cheboi (3:32.43), Morroco’s AbdalaatiIguider (3:33.29) and Bethwel Birgen (3:33.67) came in third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Silas Kiplagat, the world silver medalist over the distance, came in distant sixth in 3:33.85 as former world junior 1,500m silver medalist James Magut (3:35.29) and Ethiopia’s Teshome Dirirsa (3:35.47) completed the top-eight spots.

The Shanghai meet offered a perfect ground for Asbel and Kiplagat to clash, even though Asbel had prevailed at the first round in Doha, Qatar, last week in a 3:31.13 season best.

The two runners had each vowed to carry the day, with Kiplagat who ran 3:34.57, promising a red-hot battle.

Asbel, who pitched tent in Iten since early this year, must have been plotting to counter Kiplagat’s 3:29.27 all-time mark as preparations for IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow, Russia, enter the homestretch.

Asbel, who has 3:28.88 personal best, needs to be at best to counter Kiplagat’s 3:29.27 all-time mark as preparations for IAAF World Athletics Championships shape up.

The two metric mile stars, who finished outside medal brackets at the London Olympic Games, will be challenged by the surging Gebremedhen Gebremariam of Ethiopia.

Asbel, who discontinued school to take full-time athletics while a student at Kaptinga Secondary School in Nandi County, had hinted his top form before he left for Shanghai.

“I had an injury in London Olympics but I have recovered. That’s why I could perform well in Doha.”

But Kiplagat, the 2012 Diamond League winner, had high hopes in the Chinese City. “I miscalculated in Doha but watch me out in China. I want to prove my potential,” Kiplagat told FeverPitch before heading to Shanghai.

Kenyans Bethwel Birgen and former world Indoor silver medalist Daniel Kipchirchir Komen who boasts 3:31.90 and 3:33.05 season bests respectively, are other stars to watch even as the 14-series IAAF Diamond League meetings head to the third leg in New York, US, next Saturday. 

 In this season, Kiprop is also expected to renew the long standing family track rivalry with Andrew Kiptoo (3:43.43), whose father Kipkosgei Chepsiya beat Asbel’s father, David Kebenei to fourth place at the 1987 All Africa Games 1,500m final.

In men’s 3,000m Steeplechase it was an all Kenyan affair as they scooped first eight positions in the following order Conseslus Kipruto, Paul Kipsiele Koech, Hillary Kipsang Yego, Abel Kiprop Mutai, Gilbert Kiplangat Kirui, Jairus Kipchoge Birech, Brimin Kiprop Kipruto and Bernard Mbugua Nganga.