By Jonathan Komen

Eldoret, Kenya: World 800m record-holder David Rudisha is among top stars lined up for the third IAAF Diamond League in New York on Saturday.

Olympic and world 3,000m steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi, who has been out of action since winning gold at the London Olympic Games, will launch his season in the Big Apple.

Rudisha, who won the first leg in Doha in one minute and 43.87 seconds, returns to USA for a back-to-back competition – where he will also compete at the fourth leg in Eugene, Oregon, next week.

Rudisha, the prodigy with 800m all-time bests in America, Europe and Africa, ran the fastest 800m in history on US soil when he scorched his way to a 1:41.74 victory.

“I will compete in New York and Eugene to gauge my form in the season,” Rudisha, said after winning 400m race at the NBK/AK meeting in Kasarani recently.

Rudisha, an alumnus of Kimuron Secondary in Keiyo North, holds six of the 10 fastest 800m times in history.

 Current world leader Abeba Aregawi headlines the women’s 1,500m field, which also includes 2008 Olympic champion Nancy Langat and 2010 World indoor champion Kalkidan Gezahegn.

Jebet, a soldier at the Moi Air Base, emerged from the woodworks at the Kenya Defence Forces Championships after a career-threatening injury ruled her out.

“I’m grateful that I have returned to good form after struggling with injury and I look forward to the season. I feel delighted in my heart and I’m looking forward to the New York Diamond League,” said Jebet, who finished second to world Indoor champion Hellen Obiri at the KDF Championships.

 She added: “God-willing, I want to ascend to the peak. The injury has ruled me out for long.”

Ethiopians Olympic silver medallist Dejen Gebremeskel, World 10,000m Ibrahim Jeilan and World junior record-holder Hagos Gebrhiwet could threaten the US all-comers’ record of 12:56.98 in the men’s 5,000m, alongside Kenya’s John Kipkoech Chepkwony, one of three in the field with sub-12:50 PBs.

Kipkoech, a Thika-based soldier, has posted a brilliant 12:45 this season, and will be keen to curve out a niche in New York as the national athletics trials draws closer.

World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop, who won Doha and Shanghai meetings, will skip the New York show and focus on next week’s 4th meet in Eugene, Oregon.

— Additional reporting by IAAF.org