Rotich beats Rudisha in Stockholm meet, Yego and Bett fail to impress

Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich when he beat World and Olympic champion David Rudisha in Shanghai, China last month. Rotich also beat Rudisha in Stockholm on Thursday. [PHOTO:REUTERS]

Ferguson Rotich, fourth at the Beijing Worlds, once again stunned Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha in Stockholm, Sweden, the eighth stop of the IAAF Diamond League meeting.

Rudisha’s competitors in the men’s 800m must have been priming themselves for an upset since the world record-holder has a weakness competing under rainy weather conditions.

However, early in the race on Thursday, Rudisha looked his usual dominant self, opting not to go with the pacemaker Bram Som — who dashed through 400m alone in 50.82 — but still running at the front and controlling the race.

On the back straight, France’s Pierre-Ambroise Bosse charged past Rudisha, but his move wasn’t decisive enough to cut in by the turn.

The pair ran together around the final bend, trading blows in their quest to keep the lead, but sitting behind them, ready to unleash the knockout punch, was Kenya’s Ferguson Rotich.

First Adam Kszczot of Poland moved past Rudisha, but then Rotich came wider and faster and swept to the front with 30m to run, eventually crossing the line with his arms aloft in 1:45.07.

Bosse held on for second in 1:45.41, with Rudisha — again undone by the rain — only fourth in 1:45.69.

“It was a good race,” said Rotich, who will renew his rivalry with Rudisha at the Kenyan Olympic Trials later this month.

“A medal in Rio? Yes, I think so.”

In the men’s javelin, Egypt’s Ihab Abdelrahman sprung a surprise on Germany’s Thomas Rohler, launching the spear 86.00m in damp conditions in the third round to take victory by 11 centimetres.

Current Diamond Race leader Rohler maintained his lead at the head of the overall standings with a second-place finish, his best effort of 85.59m also coming in the third round.

Kenya’s world champion Julius Yego was third with a best of 83.09m.

World 400m hurdles champion Nicholas Bett finished fifth in 51.14.

There were upsets in women’s 1,500m as Poland’s Angelika Cichocka kicked clear of the field to win in 4:03.25, a season’s best.

The field passed 800m in a steady 2:10.23, which played right into the hands of Cichocka, who moved past Britain’s Laura Muir on the back straight on the final lap. Former world indoor champion Hellen Obiri finished sixth in 4:05.88.

Bahrain’s Ruth Jebet set off in the women’s 3000m steeplechase with the world record on her mind, and after a strong opening 2000m of 6:01.28, the current all-time mark of 8:58.81 looked to be under threat. Jebet produced a performance from the top drawer to come home in a meeting record of 9:08.37.

Beatrice Chepkoech came through to take second a long way behind in 9:22.56, with Australia’s Genevieve LaCaze third in a seven-second PB of 9:23.19.