Kenyan quartet leads Paris DL steeple assault

At its halfway point on the road to the finals, the IAAF Diamond League is now headed for the Charlety Stadium in Paris, where the all-Kenyan top four women’s 3000m steeplechasers this season take on the field on Saturday.

Former world champion Hyvin Kiyeng tops the world lists with 9:04.96, but she faces top quality opposition from compatriots Celliphine Chespol, who has run 9:05.14 this year, Norah Jeruto and Beatrice Chepkoech.

Kenya’s world 1500m silver medallist Timothy Cheruyiot, who leads this year’s standings with 3:31.22, is favourite against a field that includes Morocco’s Abdelaati Iguider and Aman Wote of Ethiopia.

South Africa’s world and Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya will seek to extend her winning record against a field that includes the silver and bronze medallists from Rio, respectively Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi and Kenya’s Margaret Wambui.

Also figuring significantly will be US runner Ajee Wilson, the world bronze medallist who is second on the 2018 world lists with the 1:56.86 she clocked in chasing Semenya home in Eugene as the South African clocked the fastest time of the season, 1:55.92.

US world champion Phyllis Francis faces a strong challenge in the women’s 400m against a field that includes two athletes who have currently run faster than her this season – Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, who has clocked a personal best of 49.84, and compatriot Shakima Wimbley, world indoor silver medallist in Birmingham, who is joint top of the 2018 standings with Miller-Uibo on 49.52.

Also on the programme, but outside the Diamond League framework, is a men’s 200m that will give home hope Christophe Lemaitre a timely run-out against a field including Alonso Edward of Panama and his rival for a European title this season, Churandy Martina of The Netherlands.

And a non-Diamond League men’s 800m will feature home world champion Pierre-Ambroise Bosse against the likes of Kenya’s Alfred Kipketer and Jonathan Kitilit, second on the 2018 lists with 1:43.46.

-Read full iaaf.org report here

Tags:

Diamond League Beatrice Chepkoech Norah Jeruto Celliphine Chespol Hyvin Kiyeng Paris Diamond League Paris DL Timothy Cheruyiot

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