Diamond League: Timothy Cheruiyot, Ingebrigtsen brothers take rivalry to Stockholm

On Friday last week, world champion Timothy Cheruiyot proved European champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen wrong in a superb 1500m sprint in Monaco.

But the game is not over yet. Cheruiyot is facing Jakob in a classy field at the Stockholm Diamond League.

In Monaco, Cheruiyot stormed to victory in a world-leading time of 3:28.45 ahead of Jakob, youngest of the Ingebrigtsen brothers, who crossed the finish line in 3:28.68.

This means the 23-microsecond win will be challenged on Sunday at the Olympic Stadium in Stockholm, Sweden — a venue where a sound technology will serve the role of fans as it did in Monaco.

Cheruiyot ranks seventh-fastest 1500m athlete while Jakob follows at eighth.

He had lost to Jacob in a virtual race dubbed the ‘Impossible Games’ which took place concurrently in Nairobi and Oslo in early June – a loss that made Cheruiyot harbour a burning desire for revenge.

With his 3:28.68 time, Jakob is the European champion while Cheruiyot ranks seventh in Africa behind world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco and compatriots Bernard Lagat, Asbel Kiprop and Noah Ng’eny.

At 17 years old, the 19-year-old Norwegian stormed to the 1500m title in Berlin to become the youngest ever track champion in European Championships history.

Cheruiyot on the other hand boasts the world championships title and experience, being five years older than Jakob.

“We’re delighted to be able to welcome the Norwegians to Sweden for the BAUHAUS-galan (Stockholm Diamond League),” meeting director Jan Kowalski said in a statement. [Stephen Rutto]

According to observers, Jakob who is in top form with his new European 1500m record has a chance for revenge over Timothy Cheruiyot, the Kenyan who beat him in Monaco.

In the women’s field, there will be many more of the world’s elite, such as reigning 5000m world champion Hellen Obiri, Olympic Champion Faith Kipyegon among other stars.

After missing the 1000m world record last Friday, Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon will be facing last Friday’s 5000m winner and world champion in the distance Hellen Obiri in Stockholm.

An energetic Kipyegon dominated the race from gun to tape, clinching the title in a stunning 2:29.15.

Before graduating to 5000m and 10,000m, Obiri displayed impressive performances in 1500m, winning the 2014 Africa Championships in Marrakech, Morocco.

The duo will be competing for the Stockholm crown with their compatriot, former world 800m youth champion Winny Chebet.

Chebet came in seventh in the world championships in Doha last year and will be hoping to challenge the world champion in a star-studded field.

After Stockholm, the Diamond League races shift to Lausanne on September 2, Brussels (September 4), Naples (September 17, Doha (September 25) and China (October 17). [Stephen Rutto]