Youngster outsprints Rudisha in Shanghai as Obiri, Chepngetich win their respective races

Kipyegon Bett of Kenya reacts as he wins in the men’s 800 meter during the Shanghai Diamond League athletics competition in Shanghai May 13, 2017. / AFP PHOTO

Youngsters show they will be no pushovers ahead of World Championships.

Kenyans produced superlative shows at the second stop of the IAAF Diamond League meeting at Shanghai Stadium in China yesterday.

Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Chepng’etich and reigning World Under-20 800m champion Kipyegon Bett mounted the Kenyan assault in the Chinese coastal city.

Chepng’etich set the ball rolling for Kenya, winning 1,500m in 3:59.22 ahead of Ethiopia’s Olympic finalists Dawit Seyaum (4:00.52) and Besu Sado (4:03.10).

Olympic 5,000m silver medalist Hellen Obiri gave Kenyans an evening to remember as she set a world leading time of 14:22.47.

Ethiopians Senbere Teferi (14:31.76) and Letesenbet Gidey (14:36.84) settled for second and third spots as Margaret Chelimo (14:45.95) and Caroline Chepkoech (14:51.87) followed.

Ethiopia’s Sofia Assefa, the London Olympics 3,000m steeplechase silver medalist, finished sixth in 14:56.37. Bahrain’s Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Ruth Jebet staged a sweet revenge on world champion Hyvin Kiyeng, who ran the fastest time (9:00.12) when she won in Doha meet last week.

Jebet won in 9:04.78 ahead of Kiyeng (9:06.72), Celliphine Chespol (9:07.08), Norah Jeruto (9:15.35) and Purity Cherotich (9:24.97), the elder sister of Kipyegon Bett who emerged top in the men’s 800m showdown.

19-year-old Bett pulled a fast one on two-time Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha, winning the two-lap race in 1:44.70.

Former Africa Youth champion Robert Biwott (1:45.15), 2016 IAAF Diamond League Trophy winner Ferguson Rotich (1:45.17) and Rudisha (1:45.36) followed.

Alfred Kipketer, who has world under-18 and under-20 titles was in 1:45.40.

Adam Kszczot (1:45.45) and Marcin Lewandowski (1:45.87) of Poland checked in sixth and seventh as Canadian Brandon McBride (1:46.40) sealed top eight spots.

It was, however, a bad evening for Kenya in the short races as world 400m hurdles champion Nicholas Bett and his elder brother Haroun Koech, the Africa silver medalist, posted dismal shows in 400m hurdles.

Bett finished eighth (51.09) while Koech trailed in 52.13. America’s Bershawn Jackson (48.63), South Africa’s LJ Van Zyl (49.35) and Kerron Clement (49.434) of USA topped.