Four-Point Head Start for Four Kenyans in Doha, by Justin Lagat

The IAAF Diamond League series promises to be very interesting this year.

During the first leg in Doha, Qatar, four of Kenya’s top athletes ran spectacular runs and promised their fans of more exciting racing ahead, and some records to be broken. Asbel Kiprop, Eunice Sum, Ezekiel Kemboi and Hellen Obiri all became the first Kenyans to win and accumulate 4 points each at the start of the season.

Men’s1500m event was the most anticipated event of the evening with most of the world’s best athletes in the distance featuring. They included Makhloufi Taoufik, Gebremedhin Mekonnen, Chepseba Nixon and Souleiman Ayanleh, among others. But much of the interest was really on the rivalry between Silas Kiplagat and Asbel Kiprop that has persisted for some years now. My memorable moment of the two competing last year was when Silas snuck on Kiprop on the finish line at the Bowerman mile event in Eugene. It was expected that Asbel Kiprop was going to be more careful this time round and prevent such a scenario happening again, but it will be interesting to see if Silas will not come up with another surprise strategy later in the year.

Hellen Obiri and her countrywoman, Mercy Jerono also staged a great run in the women 3000m event that saw the historic fast times among the top six athletes. Genzebe Dibaba, who was the pre-race favorite, had taken the lead after the 1400m mark when the pace-makers had stepped out of the race and continued to lead till the last 200m. Mercy Jerono then produced a strong kick and ran past her with Hellen Obiri in hot pursuit. The competition was then clearly between the two. Mercy Jerono was not able to hold on to the lead and Obiri outran her just as they were about to cross the finish line. Obiri won in a MR time of 8:20.68 while Jerono became second in 8:21.13. Two other Kenyans, Faith Chepng’etich and Viola Kibiwot followed in 3^rd and 4^th positions. It remains to be seen whether Genzebe Dibaba, who was beaten to the sixth position here, will come back stronger next time, or whether Obiri will continue to reign.

The men’s 3000m steeplechase was also a spectacular race. Led by world and Olympic champion, Ezekiel Kemboi, Kenyans took the first eight positions in the event. Conseslus Kipruto was not in the race. But, like the competition between Asbel and Silas in the 1500m, Kemboi’s and Conseslus’ competition in the steeplechase event also began some time last year and many track fans are now definitely looking forward to a day when the two will run against each other. Ezekiel Kemboi has also revealed his intention to go for the world record this year.

Eunice Sum who surprised everyone last year by winning gold at the world championships got a chance to prove to the world that it wasn’t a mere luck, but that she is indeed currently the best athlete in the women’s 800m event. She seems to have learned how to race the 800m race by observing David Rudisha. She runs just behind the pace maker before front-running in the last lap. Sum Promises to establish her name more this year.

Many athletes feel that there is not going to be a major championship this year and are all going to be focusing more on their personal best times and records. With this in their minds, perhaps this year’s Diamond league season may become a little more exciting. The Shanghai Diamond League is up next this weekend on the 18th and I can’t wait to see what the other Kenyans who will be running there have in store for us.