Athletics: Chepkoech races to world lead time in Shanghai meeting

Athletics - Diamond League - Shanghai - Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai, China - May 18, 2019 Kenya's Beatrice Chepkoech celebrates winning the Women's 3000m Steeplechase [Courtesy]

World steeplechase record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech easily defended her Shanghai Diamond League title in a world lead time yesterday. 

Chepkoech clocked 9:04.53 for victory ahead of her compatriot and World Junior steeplechase record holder Celliphine Chespol who timed 9:11.10.

Fast-rising Ugandan Peruth Chemutai crossed the line in 9:17.78 to finish third ahead of former Kenyan turned Bahraini Winfred Yavi (9:19.63) while Mercy Chepkorir (9:23.59) finished fifth. 

The men’s 5000m event turned to be an Ethiopian affair with Yomif Kejelcha winning the race in 13 minutes 4.16 seconds ahead of Selemon Barega who timed 13:04.71 for second ahead of fellow countryman Hagos Gebrhiwet (13:04.83) in third.

Another Ethiopian Telahun Haile Bekele finished fourth timing 13:05.94 ahead Kenyan Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli (13:06.16) in disappointing sixth place while Uganda’s World Cross Country Champion Joshua Cheptegei finished seventh in 13:06.68.

In 1,500m women race, Kenya’s Winny Chebet finished in seventh place.

Meanwhile Qatar star Abderrahman Samba opened his 2019 Diamond League season in style with a world leading time of 47.27 seconds to set the men’s 400-meter hurdles meet record.

Samba who won Diamond Prize with a unbeaten record last year, clocked 47.27s to smash the meet record of 48.63s set by Bershawn Jackson of the United States in 2017.

Rai Benjamin of United States finished second in 47.80s, followed by Irishman Thomas Barr in 49.41.