Kenyans shift focus to Zurich as Diamond League enters homestretch

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Attention is on the second last meet of the Diamond League circuit this Thursday after thrilling showdowns in Silesia, Poland on Sunday.

Under-20 record holder Phanuel Koech made a statement in the men’s 1,500m in Silesia and is also set for another major test in Zurich, Switzerland.

Although he didn’t claim victory in the event that assembled the world’s super-fast track stars, Koech, who is considered Kenya’s most promising 1,500m talent, and who has been missing in action for the better part of the season, sprinted to a second place.

Koech, who is only 19 years old, stormed into a historic 1,500m Under-20 world record of 3:27.72 in what was just the second race in the distance in his career. The breakthrough propelled him into the club of 1,500m greats.

He competed for the title alongside Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who is a two-time Olympic gold-medallist and a four-time Diamond League champion and the reigning Olympic champion Cole Hocker of the USA, but rising star Ethan Strand (USA) pulled a major surprise.

The 23-year-old Strand shocked them all to claim an unexpected victory in 3:30.77.

Koech came in second in 3:31.14 while Hocker settled for the third place in a contest that saw race favourite Ingebrigtsen finishing fourth.

Ingebrigtsen was making a return after months of off-season as he recovered from a nagging injury. He is fresh from being crowned European 5,000m champion.

"I was forced to do more 5,000m specific training for the European Championships. So I have been preparing for the 1,500m for the last 10 days only. I felt a little rusty at the beginning, then a little better as the race went on. My rivals gave me a choice with 500-600m to go - either stay in lane 2 or get to the front,” said Ingebrigtsen.

He added: “Of course I decided to take the lead! The race was a little messy, but in the end I was simply not strong enough to defend my position. I am focusing on the race in Zurich now. I believe with every day now I will be more ready to race over 1500, so give me four days and I should be stronger.”

World silver medallist Dorcus Ewoi delivered another podium position in the women’s 1,500m, finishing behind meeting winner Olympic 800m silver medallist Tsige Duguma of Ethiopia and Olympic silver medallist in the event, Jessica Hull of Australia.

Duguma sealed her victory in 3:55.06 as Hull followed closely in 3:55.20. Ewoi closed the podium spots in the hotly contested race, in 3:55.58.

There was however a major disappointment in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase.

Freshly minted Commonwealth champion Edmund Serem could not withstand pressure from experienced steeplechasers such as two-time Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco, his countryman Eddine Ben as well as Ethiopia’s Gemechu Godana, who savoured sweet victory in the Silesia showdown.

Serem, a former world Under-20 champion finished sixth in a time of 8:09.07.

Also setting her sights on victory in Zurich is world champion Faith Cherotich, who finished second behind Kenyan-born Bahraini Winfred Yavi in Lausanne last week.

Cherotich had claimed victory at the Eugene meet last month, defeating Yavi, only for the Olympic champion to stamp her authority in Lausanne.

"I´m happy about my race today in Lausanne, now my next stop is to compete in Zurich," said Cherotich.

The focus will then shift to the two-day finals in Brussels on September 4-5.