Obiri to battle Dibaba in Rome

Scotland's Laura Muir, Kenya's Hellen Onsando Obirim and Kenya's Faith Chepngetich Kibiegon compete in the final of the women's 1500m athletics event at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on July 29, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS

At exactly 10:40pm, the athletics world will come to a standstill as women’s 5000m showpiece gets underway at the fourth stop of the IAAF Diamond League in Rome, Italy, tonight.

The 37th edition of the Golden Gala Pietromennea – dedicated to Italia’s former Olympic and world 200m record holder Pietro Mennea who died in 2013 – sets for hair-raising action as Olympic 5000m silver medalist Hellen Obiri battles Ethiopia’s track assassin Genzebe Dibaba, who has put the world 5000m record held by her elder sister Tirunesh Dibaba (14:11.15) in her cross hairs.

Obiri, who works at Kenya Defence Forces, carries her world leading time of 14:22.47 set in Shanghai to the line up.

She stands as the sixth fastest 5000m runner in history behind Ethiopians Tirunesh Dibaba, Almaz Ayana, Meseret Defar, Genzebe Dibaba and Vivian Cheruiyot.

Genzebe had announced to set a new all-time mark in Eugene, Oregon, 11 days ago at the third leg of the IAAF Diamond League and she did not.

She made a daring charge on the world record up to the 3000m mark but seemed to have run out of gas to finish in 14:25.22, 10 seconds shy of her personal best mark.

Obiri looks ready for the big battle. “I know she is strong but I will also do my best. I have prepared well and hope to give it my best shot,” said Obiri.

Others include world cross country champions Irine Chebet Cheptai and Agnes Jebet and Ethiopian junior Letesenbet Gidey, who ran 14:36.84 behind Obiri in Shanghai.

After staging six wins at the IAAF Diamond League last season, Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto needs to be at his best to retain his bulging stature –and, at best, prove critics wrong after his 12th place in 3000m (7:49.00) at the first leg of IAAF Diamond League meeting in Doha last month.

He will battle four-time world champion Ezekiel Kemboi and two-time IAAF Diamond League Trophy winner Jairus Kipchoge Birech in the water and barriers race.

The men’s javelin throw has attracted the highest number of medalists, with three world champions and two Olympic champions.

Reigning world champion Julius Yego takes on Olympic champions Thomas Rohler (2016 Rio) and 2012 London Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott as well as world champions Vitezslav Vesely (2013) and Tero Pitkamaki (2007).

Rohler basks in 93.90m, the second best throw in history while Yego has 92.72m but that counts for nothing when the action gets underway tonight.