Kipruto, Manangoi top in Rome Golden Gala

Kipruto, Manangoi top in Rome Golden Gala

Conseslus Kipruto profited from a nasty fall to win his third IAAF Diamond League (DL) meeting in a row at the Rome Golden Gala on Thursday night as hopes of a world record in the men 3000m steeplechase came tumbling.

Beijing Worlds silver medallist, Elijah Manangoi also celebrated his first DL victory of the season in the men 1500m while the silver winner at Moscow 2013, Mercy Cherono was beaten by a distance to second by Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana who missed the world record by a hair’s breath.

The men water and barriers showdown produced the expected rivalry between the two young Kenyans who have dominated the Diamond Race in their event in the last three seasons but with an unexpected and bruising twist.

It was a two-man race from just after the first kilometre, but as the pair negotiated the second hurdle on the final lap, it became a one-man race as Birech fell.

Kipruto, at whose shoulder he had been running, went on unencumbered to victory in 8:01.41, the last of four 2016 world-leading marks set on the night.

There was some rueful shaking of heads at the end as Birech, who had quickly picked himself up from the infield and resumed running, came home second in 8:11.39.

“Despite the win, I am very, very disappointed,” said Kipruto. “I wanted to run under 7.57. I tried to push it too hard and it did not work.”

The DL winner later posted photos on his Facebook wall showing the heavily bandaged knees from the nasty fall at his hotel assuring everyone he would be fine.

In the absence of three-time world champion, Asbel Kiprop, Manangoi reigned supreme in 3:33.96, leading compatriot Robert Biwott (3:34.21) and Australian Ryan Gregson (3:34.27) to the podium as the 2010 Commonwealth champion, Silas Kiplagat finished just outside in 3:34.49.

The women 5000m was all about Beijing champion, Ayana who painfully missed Tirunesh Dibaba’s standard in another barnstorming performance.

Having missed out on the record by just over five seconds at the DL meeting in Rabat two weeks ago Ayana, agonisingly came even closer in Rome as she stopped the clock at 14:12.59 just 1.44 off the mark set by her Ethiopian compatriot Tirunesh eight years ago.

It was an DL record. It was a meeting record at the Italian one-day showpiece. It was the fastest time run this year. It was the second fastest time ever run.

But, despite her dazed smile in the aftermath of achieving all those accolades, it wasn’t what Ayana wanted.

As the last pacemaker dropped away with seven laps remaining, Ayana was in a race of her own, more than half-a-lap clear. She was running easily, no strain showing on her face, and passed 3000m in 8:30.43.

The laps clicked down, and it seemed the world champion was on the brink of reaching the prize she has sought all season.

With three laps left, she clocked 10:48.8. With two left, the time was 11.58.00.

An increase in speed on the penultimate lap saw her clock 13:06.5 at the bell. She needed a final lap of under 65 seconds, but couldn’t quite make it.

It was a measure of Ayana’s outstanding effort that 2013 world silver medallist Cherono should register a personal best of 14:33.95 and still be adrift by almost the length of the home straight.

Cherono’s compatriot Viola Kibiwot was third with 14:34.39.

An out of sorts Moscow world champion and Diamond League  Eunice Sum slumped to 10th (2:02.03) in the women 800m won by Olympics silver medallist Caster Semenya who looks an unstoppable as she moves closer and closer to Rio 2016.

The South African equalled her 2016 world-lead of 1:56.64 set in Rabat in registering her third win in as many IAAF Diamond League outings.

After coasting along in the middle of the pack, the 2009 world champion moved up on the outside on the back straight, and as she entered the final bend she was on the shoulder of the leader, Burundi’s 2016 world indoor champion Francine Niyonsaba, moving past her as they entered the final straight before establishing a 15-metre lead by the line.

Behind her, Niyonsaba clocked 1:58.20 ahead of Great Britain’s Lynsey Sharp, who recorded a season’s best of 1:59.03.

“Now I need to be consistent, to maintain this shape until the Olympics,” said Semenya. “My dream, my main goal is of course Olympic gold. I am very pleased with the time.”

Report compiled from IAAF (iaaf.org)

Tags:

Elijah Manangoi athletics IAAF Diamond League Jairus Birech Conseslus Rome Golden Gala

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