Kenya rules Diamond League running events
The men’s 1,500m final saw six athletes set personal best records, but is was Asbel Kiprop of Kenya that won the Diamond Trophy, and the race with a season best time of 3:32.18. Kiprop came into the final with a three point lead on countryman Augustine Kiprono Choge, and increased that lead to nine points to win the 1,500m Diamond Trophy.
Choge finished third behind Leonel Manzano of the United States, who took second with a personal best time of 3:32.37, but was able to keep second place in the overall standings. Mekonnen Gebremedhin of Ethiopia dropped from third in the overall standings to fourth, ending the season tied in points with Manzano with six. Gebremedhin lost the tie-breaker which looks first at total season wins, neither men had any, and then performance in the final event.
Thomas Lancashire of Great Britain, Carsten Schlangen of Germany, Collis Birmingham of Australia, and Samir Dahmani of France all set personal best times.
Two more Kenyans took first and second in the women’s 5,000m final. Vivian Cheruiyot won the race and the 5,000m Diamond Trophy after trailing Sentayehu Ejigu by three points in the standings. Sentayehu finished third in the race behind Linet Chepkwemoi Masai, but was able to keep second place overall.
Alemitu Bekele of Turkey, Sally Kipyego of Kenya, and Stephanie Twell of Great Britain all set personal best times.
Kenya continued their long distance dominance in the shorter 800m as well which saw David Rudisha finish in first with a time of 1:43.50, and winthe 800m Diamond Trophy. Abubaker Kaki Khamis of Sudan took second in the race and in the final standings.
Two more Kenyans finished in the top five of the 800m Diamond League standings, Boaz Lalang finished fourth and Jackson Mumbwa Kivuva finished in fifth.
Overall Kenya won the Diamond Trophy in seven out of eight track events that were 800 metres or longer. The event they lost was the men’s 5,000m event which saw two Ethiopians, Imane Merga and Tariku Bekele take first and second. Kenya was close in that event too taking the third, fourth, fifth, and seventh spots.
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