Cheruiyot upstages Manangoi, Farah top in Zurich DL Final

Cheruiyot upstages Manangoi, Farah top in Zurich DL Final

World silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot led an impressive Kenyan 1-2-3-4-5-6 finish to claim his maiden Diamond League title, upstaging his compatriot and reigning World champion Elijah Manangoi at the final leg of the track and field series event in Zurich.

 

Cheruiyot who said that he was content with having finished behind Manangoi a fortnight ago in London, took the top podium place in 3:33.93 ahead of countryman Silas Kiplagat (3:34.26). Manangoi (3:34.65) settled for third place.

“The race was hard but I could not control what was happening at the front. Now I am going back home and I will try to rest a bit,” Cheruiyot prior to Thursday night’s race had only beaten Manangoi once in international competition.

Beijing Olympics gold medallist and three-time World champion Asbel Kiprop (3:34.77) finished fourth with Charles Simotwo (3:34.93) and Vincent Kibet (3:34.96) sealing the top six spots.

In the women’s 3000m steeplechase, Kenyan-born Bahraini Ruth Jebet ran the second fastest women’s 3,000m steeplechase winning in 8:55.29 – also a world leading and meeting record.

No one but herself has ever run faster over the distance with the Olympic champion’s performance pushing Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech to setting a personal best of 8:59.84. Her compatriot Norah Jeruto finished third in 9:05.31.

Jebet ,20, was only two and a half seconds off her own world record of 8:52.78 set in Paris in August last year. Running in Switzerland’s largest city, she broke off from the chasing pack with three laps to go but Chepkoech kept her at arms reach running step by step.

The two stayed tucked in together even after the bell went off. However, Jebet managed to shake off Chepkoech to with a few meters to the finish line.

Chepkoech was unable to respond as Jebet opened a gap of about 15m to claim the much needed victory after finishing fifth in London.

The 800m women’s race was a reminder of Rio Olympics Games final, as South African Cater Semenya led Francine Niyonsaba and Margret Wambui Nyairera to a 1,2,3 replica finish.

Semenya the two time Olympic and two time world champion successfully retained her title after clocking 1:58.84. While Niyonsaba and Wamboi stopped the timer at 1:56.71 and 1:56.87 in the tightly contested race.

Sir Mo Farah settled his scores with world title holder Muktar Edris to take 5000m Diamond League Championship.

Farah who was racing his last track competition finally had his fairly tale ending with a time of 13:06.05.

Muktar finished second in 13:06.09 ahead of his Ethiopian compatriot Yomif Kejelcha (13:06.18).

Kenyan-born American Paul Chelimo (originally second) was disqualified for causing an obstruction.

Tags:

Switzerland athletics Timothy Cheruiyot IAAF Diamond League Zurich Diamond League Zurich

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