by Justin LagatThe Doha DL typically has some fast times and big WL. This time they outdid themselves, and Just Lagat gives his Kenyan country the credit that is due!
Hellen Obiri leads 3000m flat, photo by Diamond League AG
In an exciting evening, Kenyan runners dominated all the six distance events, from the 800m to the 3000m steeplechase, and registered a total of four world-leading times in Doha.
Faith Kipyegon produced a strong finishing kick with about 150m to go in the women’s 800m race to win it in 1:58.26. This was just a fraction of a second outside the world-leading time of 1:57.73 and fans could not help but wonder whether Kipyegon will add this distance to her favorite 1500m at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Timothy Cheruiyot, world lead, 1,500m, photo by Diamond League AG
Timothy Cheruiyot set a new world-leading time of 3:30.48 in the men’s 1500m. The race had started out so fast with a first 400m lap of 54.30 that left the field in a long single file around the track. But, Cheruiyot still had some energy to slightly extend his lead in the home straight against his competitors.
Norah Jeruto takes WL in women’s steeplechase, photo by Diamond League AG
Despite a late withdrawal by Beatrice Chepkoech and a fall by Hyvin Kiyeng in the final water barrier, Norah Jeruto still ensured that it was a Kenyan that won the women’s 3000m steeplechase race. She did it in a world-leading time of 9:00.67.
Wycliffe Kinyamal took the WL at 800m in Doha! photo by Diamond League AG
Wycliffe Kinyamal must have been studying the strong surges often employed by Ferguson Rotich on the home stretch in the men’s 800m races. This time around, Kinyamal bolted out as they approached the last 100m and quickly created a gap that was safe enough to stay clear ahead of Rotich. He won the race in a world-leading 1:43.91, followed by the strong finishing Rotich.
Beatrice Chebet, 3000m win, WL, photo by Diamond League AB
The women’s 3000m race was a show of might amongst the Kenyan track stars. Beatrice Chebet registered a world-leading time of 8:27.49 leading four other Kenyans to fill the first five positions in the race. Hellen Obiri, the pre-race favorite would finish 4th.
Even after they had cut off the transmission of the live coverage of the meeting, little-known Moses Kipsang who was the only Kenyan in the men’s 3000m steeplechase race that was not part of the main Diamond League races won it is 8:30.01.
