ASBEL STILL ON TOP: It's three wins in a row for Kiprop after victory in Birmingham Diamond League
Athletics
By
JONATHAN KOMEN IN BIRMINGHAM, UK
| Jun 06, 2016
Three-time world 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop posted his third consecutive win here in a world leading and meet record time of 3:29.33 as he consolidated his IAAF Diamond League Trophy points with 20.
Asbel now longs to meet his challenger, Silas Kiplagat for the 37th time during the national trials, as he makes his bid to gun for a second Olympic gold medal.
Morocco’s Iguider Abdelaati (3:33.10), Willis Nick (3:34.29) of Newzealand and Vincent Kibet (3:34.60) were also in the mix.
James Magut (3:35.18), a previous Diamond League winner in Birmingham, trailed as Australia’s Ryan Gregson (3:35.50) and Silas Kiplagat (3:35.52) sealed top seven spots.
Asbel, a two-time Diamond Race Trophy winner and basking in the glory of three wins, will head to Oslo for the next IAAF Diamond League meeting, where he eyes a fifth win.
“I am happy to be running so fast here. This is the time when you need to do this and deliver the results, in front of the fans,” he said.
“I want to run faster this season and have a revenge for 2012 London Olympics. But I just want to do four Diamond Leagues meetings before the national trials and ensure I am 60 per cent fit. I want to emulate Morroco’s Hicham El Guerrouj, the four-time world champion and world record holder at 3:26.00.”
In 600m, it was a script straight from heaven. No one would direct such an eagerly awaited race –not even the prophets, but only God.
And ‘King’ David Rudisha summoned his powers for deserved victory last evening.
Rudisha, a traffic police officer in Eldoret, set a new Africa record in 600m of 1:13.10, hundreds of a second shy of the world record mark of 1:12.81 set by Johny Gray of USA in 1986.
Frenchman Bosse Pierre (1:13.21) and Erik Sowinski (1:15.06) of USA followed.
Rudisha said: “I thank God for the record. It is a good sign as I prepare for Olympics.”
World 10,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot won 5,000m in 15:12.79 ahead of Mercy Cherono (15:12.85) and Janeth Kisa (12:19.48).
Two-time 3000m steeplechase world silver medallist Conseslus Kipruto, wrapped up his mid-season with four wins –Doha, Rabat, Rome and Birmingham ahead of the national Olympic trials.
Kipruto, who comes from Lutiet Village in Nandi County, said;
“It was a very good time, but I was not expecting to run that time in Birmingham. It is good to run a meeting record and I think that is my best time ever in the UK.”
Kipruto, who has world youth and world junior titles under his belt, could not run under eight minutes as planned, as he won in 8:00.12, which is a meet record and world lead time.
Third fastest steeplechaser in history, Paul Kipsiele Koech (8:10.19), Barnabas Kipyego (8:14.74), Brimin Kipruto (8:19.33) and Jairus Birech (8:20.31), the 10th fastest runner, followed.
The field featured eight gold, six silver and two bronze medallists at Olympic or World Championships.