Tough battle as stars chase honours in Brussels

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

It will be another moment of riveting action as Kenyans take to the track to contest for honours at the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme, the final meeting of the IAAF Diamond League in Brussels, Belgium, tonight.

Kenya parades three world champions at the King Baudouin Stadium chasing honours in four races –1,500m women and 5,000m women alongside 800m men and 3,000m steeplechase men –in the hunt for $50,000 (Sh5m) prize money.

World champions Hellen Obiri (5,000m), Conseslus Kipruto (3,000m steeplechase) and Elijah Manangoi (1,500m) have a mountain to climb seeking to prove their victory in London last month was no fluke.

Obiri is the hot favourite in the 5,000m field against Ethiopia’s Sofia Assefa and Letesenbet Gidey, who are out to spoil her party. Agnes Tirop, Margaret Chelimo and Beatrice Chepkoech, who will try her luck as she missed out on 3,000m steeplechase prize in Zurich last week.

Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Chepng’etich stands out as favourite lining up against former world junior 800m silver medalist Winny Chebet, Netherland’s Sifan Hassan, Morocco’s Rababe Arafi and Angelika Cichocka of Poland.

Kipruto will need to be at his best to stop two-time IAAF Diamond League winner Jairus Kipchoge Birech, world junior champion Amos Kirui and Abraham Kibiwott.

They will be up against America’s world bronze medalist Evan Jager and Stanley Kebenei, who changed his allegiance to USA.

Having lost the 1,500m IAAF Diamond League Trophy to Timothy Cheruiyot in Zurich last week, Manangoi will compete in a non-Diamond League 1,500m race. “I am just here on an invitation. I am closing my season in this meeting,” Manangoi told Standard Sports.

Asbel Kiprop, who failed to impress in 1,500m this season, lines up in 800m against Botswana’s Nijel Amos. Additional reporting by iaaf.org