Obiri, Chepng'etich light up Doha Diamond League
Kenya's Faith Kipyegon blows a kiss after winning the women's 800m during the IAAF Diamond League competition on September 25, 2020 at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium in the Qatari capital Doha.
What you need to know:
Hellen Obiri, Diamond League, Faith Chepng’etich, Ferguson Rotich, Beatrice Chepkoech,
World 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri battled to win her 3,000m race during the Doha leg of the Diamond League on Friday in the Qatari capital.
The night also belonged to Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Chepng’etich and World 800m bronze medalist Ferguson Rotich, who sparkled to reign in their respective 800m races.
Kenya's Faith Kipyegon celebrates after winning the women's 800m during the IAAF Diamond League competition on September 25, 2020 at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium in the Qatari capital Doha.
World 3,000m steeplechase champion Beatrice Chepkoech took on Obiri when she charged past the 2016 Rio Olympics 5,000m silver medallist after the bell.
However, Obiri would prove that her recent form that saw her seal her third 3,000m victory in Monaco on August 14 in a world lead and meet record time of 14:22.12, wasn’t a fluke.
Obiri, the 2015 world 5,000m champion, would regain her lead with 200m to go as Chepkoech and world 10,000m bronze medallist Agnes Jebet gave a spirited chase.
Obiri, the 2013 World 1,500m bronze medallist, cruised to victory in a world lead 8:22.54.
World 5,000 metres champion Hellen Obiri (right) leads compatriot Beatrice Chepkoech (front-left) in the Women's 3000m during the Diamond League competition on September 25, 2020 at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium in the Qatari capital Doha.
Jebet beat Chepkoech on the line to take second place in a personal best of 8:22.92 as the steeplechase world record holder came in third also in a PB of 8:22.92.
Two other Kenyans also followed in personal bests - World 5,000m silver medallist Margaret Chelimo (8:24.76) and Olympic 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Hyvin Kiyeng (8:25.13).
Chepng’etich, winner of the 1,000m race in Monaco and Brussels, cracked her codes to charge past the field, taking command from 300m to win in a world lead of 1:57.68.
Emily Cherotich took the field through the first lap in 57.72 before Chepng’etich, who won the 1,500m world title in 2017 before settling for silver at 2019 Doha, triumphed in a personal best time.
“I am happy to win here in Doha considering this is my second 800m race after about three years break from it,” said Chepng’etich, adding that she wasn’t expecting to win.
Esther Guerrero from Spain came in second in a personal best of 1:59.22 followed by Adelle Tracey from Great Britain in season best 1:59.87.
Rotich, who finished fourth in Stockholm and Monaco, took on the field after going through the bell at 50.83 to win in a season best 1:44.17.
