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The Wanda Diamond League came to an end with a slew of African athletes registering excellent results at the Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Friday as they stepped up their preparations for next year’s Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
Kenya in particular saw several athletes take podium positions with a remarkable clean sweep in the women’s 3,000m event.
In that event, Hellen Obiri led a Kenyan dominance in which the East African country claimed the top five positions. Obiri won the race in a world leading time of 8: 22.54. Obiri’s victory time was also the second fastest time of her career behind the African outdoor record of 8: 20.68 she set in 2014.
Her compatriots Agnes Jebet Tirop and Beatrice Chepkoech came in second and third respectively, both registering 8: 22.92.
The race was quick as, for the first time in history, seven women finished within 8:27.
After the race, Obiri, the 5,000-meter world champion, said that Doha had become a second home for her as she had won many races there, including last year’s World Championships.
“I have been training in Doha for about a month in preparation for this event and I think it has helped me get in shape and acclimatize quite well,” Obiri said.
Ferguson Rotich of Kenya finished first in the men’s 800m race in 1: 44.16 ahead of Elliot Giles of Great Britain, while compatriot Wyclife Kinyamal claimed the bronze medal in 1: 45.68. The 1,500 meter world champion Timothy Cheruiyot finished in a disappointing eighth place.
On the other hand, Faith Kipyegon, the women’s Olympic champion in the 1,500 meters, took home the gold medal in the women’s 800-meter race ahead of Spain’s Esther Guerrero and Britain’s Adelle Tracey. Kipyegon, who has barely competed at the distance in the past three years, finished with a personal best and a world-leading time of 1: 57.68.
Ethiopian Habitam Alemu and Ugandan Winnie Nanyondo finished fourth and fifth respectively, while 2013 world champion Eunice Sum finished eighth.
Arthur Cisse from Ivory Coast won the men’s 200m event with a new national record of 20.23, beating Julian Forte from Jamaica and Christophe Lemaitre from France.
Another Ivorian Marie-Josee Ta Lou (11.21 seconds) claimed the silver medal in the women’s 100-meter race, which was won by Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah in 10.87 seconds.
That Brume of Nigeria picked up the silver medal in the women’s long jump after finishing behind Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk of Ukraine with Khaddi Sagnia of Sweden in third place.
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