By Feverpitch Reporter and IAAF

Although one would be forgiven for thinking the 40th IAAF World Challenge meeting was all about David Rudisha, his compatriots also weighed in on the act with impressive victories in other distance races.

The men’s 1,500m pitted Olympic, Africa and Diamond League winner, Asbel Kiprop against fast rising Silas Kiplagat, who blasted to the world lead last month in addition to outgoing Commonwealth 5,000m champion, Augustine Choge, last year’s quickest metric miler and the showdown did not disappoint.

Sylvia Kibet

Vickson Polonet as pacemaker went through 800 metres in 1:52.64 and 2:38 at the bell before finishing his task with 300 metres to go. In the final lap, Kiprop and Kiplagat engaged in a splendid neck-to-neck battle that remained undecided until Kiprop pulled away in the final 50 metres to win in a new seasonal best of 3:31.78 to Kiplagat’s 3:31.97. Nixon Chepseba took third place in 3:32.42, while World champion Yusuf Saad Kamel ran his quickest of 2010 in fourth place in 3:33.06. Choge (3:33.99) failed to hit the right notes, coming in sixth behind countryman, Geoffrey Kipkoech (3:33.99).

Kiprop and Kiplagat were named in the country’s squad for Delhi Commonwealth Games on Saturday.

Another India bound runner, Sylvia Kibet, the 5000 World silver medallist, launched her kick in the final 300m to take the win in the women’s 3000m in 8:39.08 to hold off Moncton’s 3000m World Junior champion Mercy Cherono, who set her lifetime best with 8:42.09. Pauline Korikwiang finished third in 8:43.67 for the Kenyan podium sweep.

Africa 5,000m champion, Edwin Soi clocked 7:29.75 for third in the corresponding men’s race that saw Ethiopia’s Tariku Bekele improve his own world seasonal best for 3000m from 7:28.99 set in Berlin last week to 7:28.70. Kenyan born American runner, Bernard Lagat smashed the Area record dipping under 7:30 for the first time in his career with 7:29.00.

John Kipkoech was fourth in 7:32.72 ahead of USA’s Chris Solinsky, fifth in 7:34.32. Rieti also featured a men’s 800m B-race that also went to Kenya with Job Kinyor running 1:46.40 for victory.