Kenyans to lead big field at the opening leg of IAAF Diamond League meet in Qatar capital next month

Hellen Obiri [Rueters]

Kenya’s four IAAF Diamond League winners including Hellen Obiri will compete in Doha – the first leg of the 2019 IAAF Diamond League – which will be held for the first time in the state-of-the-art Khalifa International Stadium on May 3.

Obiri, who will contest the 3000m in Doha, made history this year by winning gold at the World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark. With the feat, she became the first athlete – man or woman – to win titles at the World Championships, World Indoor Championships, World Cross Country Championships and the IAAF World Relays.

Obiri will be looking to start her track campaign on a high as she builds up to the IAAF World Athletics Championships that run in Doha from September 27 to October 6.

“Of course, I have great memories of Doha which is where I set my African 3000m record of 8:20.68 in 2014,” she said. “I am excited to race in the Khalifa International Stadium next month and I also look forward to returning for the World Championships later this year when I plan to contest both the 5000m and 10,000m.”

Obiri is unbeaten so far in 2019 but her winning streak will be put to the test in Doha. The Ethiopian contingent is headed by world indoor record-holder Genzebe Dibaba, winner of the 3000m at the past three World Indoor Championships.

Obiri also faces opposition from teammates Caroline Kipkirui – who won in Doha last year in 8:29.05 – as well as world 3,000m steeplechase record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech and 2017 world cross-country champion Agnes Tirop.

Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto will battle 2018 world leader Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco in the water and barriers race.

The line up also features fellow Kenyans Amos Kirui, Benjamin Kigen and Leonard Bett along with Ethiopia’s Chala Beyo, who won the steeplechase in Doha last year.

Emmanuel Korir began his unbeaten campaign on the IAAF Diamond League circuit last year with a victory over 800m in Doha and he will be seeking a repeat performance this year.

Korir moved to sixth on the world all-time list with 1:42.05 in London before winning the Diamond League title in Brussels.

Ronald Kwemoi, who won the 3000m in Doha two years ago, returns to action after a low-key season. There is also a strong Kenyan presence in the 1,500m with world champion Elijah Manangoi and Timothy Cheruiyot lining up.

Elijah Manangoi’s younger brother George, the world U-18 and U-20 1,500m champion, is also in the lineup.