Kipsang, Kibet shine in Diamond League opener at Doha

Kipsang who notched a world leading time last weekend at the Kip Keino Classic held off compatriot and world champion Timothy Cheruiyot to win the race in 3:35.70.

Cheruiyot who is hunting for a fifth consecutive Diamond League title settled for the second spot in 3:36.16.

World Under-20 800m champion Noah Kibet announced his entry at the big stage when he chalked victory in the two-lap race after clocking a season best of 1:49.08.

Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon who was making her first competitive appearance this season settled for second in the women's 3000m.

Kipyegon was locked in a neck-to-neck battle with Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba with the Burundian reigning supreme in a world leading time of 8:37.70 as Kipyegon stopped the timer in 8:38.05.

The men's 3000m steeplechase saw Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco triumph in a world lead of 8:09.66.

Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia finished second in 8:09.67 while Kenya's Abraham Kibiwott came home third in 8:16.40

The Doha meeting was the first stop of the 2022 Diamond League season with the second leg slated for Birmingham on May 21.