Bett, Kimeli finish second in Diamond League battle

Kenya’s Leonard Bett and Nicholas Kimeli placed second in the 3000m steeplechase and 5000m respectively as the 2021 Diamond League season kicked off at Gateshead last night in rainy conditions.

Bett, the World Under-20 3000m steeplechase silver medalist clocked 8:31.52 to finish second behind Kenyan-born Hillary Bor of USA who won the race in 8:30.22 with another Kenyan Abraham Kibiwott coming home seventh in 8:35.14

On his part, Kimeli settled for silver in the 5000m race after clocking 13:10.11 behind Mohammed Katir of Spain who won the race in 13:08.52

Other Kenyans in the race; Michael Kibet (13:20.52) and Jacob Krop (13:24.64) placed third and seventh respectively.

In the absence of world 1500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot, European champion Jakob Ingebrigsten stormed to victory over the distance in 3:36.27

The second leg of the Diamond League series will be held on Friday in Doha, Qatar.