Rudisha stunned, Chepngetich, Kiyeng shine in Shanghai

Olympics and world champion, David Rudisha was once again stunned by Ferguson Rotich as Beijing silver medallist, Faith Chepng’etich Kipyegon set a national record in the women 1500m at the second IAAF Diamond League meeting of the season in Shanghai on Saturday.

World champion Hyvin Kiyeng made up a 20 metres deficit over the last lap as she produced the sixth fastest time in history to defeat former world junior champion Ruth Jebet for a new meet record in the women 3000m steeplechase.

Just like the 2015 World Championships Trials in Nairobi, Rotich who was fourth in Beijing mugged the favourite to take the honours in 1:45.68.

“I’m so upset. I lost two seconds because of the start. There were high jumpers in the lane and they start,” the wounded London 2012 and Beijing 2015 champion told the IAAF after the race where he faded to fifth in 1:46.24.

Rudisha was left treading water in the home straight as Rotich slipped past the field on the inside lane to snatch a shock victory.

The Olympics winner had targeted 1:43.50 and led the field with 200m to go, but the world record holder’s customary finishing kick was nowhere to be seen and Dutchman Thijmen Kupers attacked off the bend.

The Kenyan ran out of steam for his slowest time for five years, as Robert Biwott and Alfred Kipketer took second and third ahead of Kupers as the delighted Rotich threw his arm up in celebration ahead of them.

There were no surprises in the women 1500m where World silver medallist Kipyegon lived up to expectations in style as she eclipsed her own Kenyan record with a storming piece of middle distance running that left compatriot Hellen Obiri and a trio of young Ethiopians in her wake.

The long-striding Kipyegon led from five at the bell and streaked through the final 200m to win in 3:56.82, consigning Genzebe Dibaba’s 2012 meeting record to the dustbin and lowering her own best by 0.16 to move to the top of the world list.

“I didn’t have a time in my head. I just wanted a good time in the race and to win. God knows who wins,” the former World Junior champion said after her rip-roaring run.

Obiri was way back but still clocked 3:59.34 for second as 19-year-old world indoor medallist Dawit Seyaum took third in 3:59.87.

“I gave birth to Tanya one year and one week ago, so to come back and run 3.59 in my first race since 2014 is great. My training has gone well for many months and I hope to go on and run a 3.56 later this season and win a medal at the Olympic Games,” the 2012 World Indoor champion added on her glittering comeback to international circuit running.

Her teammates, Besu Sado and Gudaf Tsegay, ran personal bests in fourth and fifth respectively.

In the women’s water and barriers race, the Bahraini strode clear of the field after half way to establish a seemingly unbeatable lead only for the world champion to pass her down the back straight and sweep home for a world leading meeting record of 9:07.42.

“Wow! A personal best and meet record! I’m proud of my last 400m that was my strongest point. I was very relaxed before the race, confident about my shape. Looking forward to the rest of the season,” the elated Kiyeng gushed at the finish.

The exhausted Jebet fell to her knees in the home straight but had time to pick herself up to claim second in an Asian record of 9:15.98.

Ethiopia’s Olympic silver medallist Sofia Assefa was third ahead of last year’s Diamond Race winner, Virginia Nyambura.

“I am very happy with the result. It is my first time in Shanghai. I am pleased with the way the race went and my hope now is to qualify through the Ethiopian Trials and make it to the Rio Olympics in the 5.000m,” the winner remarked.

“The pace was slow at the beginning, but end very good. I like to have the battle with the Ethiopians. Improved my personal best with a half minute. You know, you have to focus and I have to work on my speed. This was a good race, but I believe I can still improve,” Cheptengei added.

Material from IAAF used in this report

SELECTED RESULTS

Men’s

100 Metres – Men Race 3

1 Gatlin, Justin                  USA       9.94         10

2 Ogunode, Femi                   QAT      10.07          6

3 Rodgers, Mike                   USA      10.10          4

4 Collins, Kim                    SKN      10.17          3

5 Young, Isiah                    USA      10.22          2

6 Forte, Julian                   JAM      10.23          1

7 Gittens , Ramon                  BAR      10.24

8 Xie , Zhenye                     CHN      10.31

9 Mo , Youxue                      CHN      10.66

800 Metres – Men

1 Rotich , Ferguson Cheruiyot      KEN    1:45.68         10

2 Biwott , Robert Kiptoo           KEN    1:45.84          6

3 Kipketer , Alfred                KEN    1:45.93          4

4 Kupers , Thijmen                 NED    1:46.23          3

5 Rudisha , David Lekuta           KEN    1:46.24          2

6 Gakeme , Antoine                 BDI    1:46.35          1

7 van Rensburg , Rynardt           RSA    1:46.69

8 Sowinski , Erik                  USA    1:47.22

9 Rimmer , Michael                 GBR    1:47.44

10 Symmonds , Nick                  USA    1:48.39

11 Kinyor , Job Koech               KEN    1:48.85

Som , Bram                       NED        DNF

5000 Metres – Men

1 Edris , Muktar                   ETH   12:59.96         10

2 Cheptegei , Joshua Kiprui        UGA   13:00.60          6

3 Longosiwa , Thomas Pkemei        KEN   13:01.69          4

4 Embaye , Abadi                   ETH   13:02.49          3

5 Kejelcha , Yomif                 ETH   13:03.29          2

6 Gebrhiwet , Hagos                ETH   13:04.12          1

7 Rop , Albert Kibichii            BRN   13:04.87

8 Merga , Imane                    ETH   13:06.25

9 Soi , Edwin Cheruiyot            KEN   13:07.68

10 Alamirew , Yenew                 ETH   13:08.70

11 Ayalew , Aweke                   BRN   13:18.15

12 Haji , Yasin                     ETH   13:19.50

13 Legese , Birhanu                 ETH   13:31.67

14 Duo , Bujie                      CHN   14:20.80

Choge , Augustine Kiprono        KEN        DNF

Rono , Geoffrey Kipkoech         KEN        DNF

Koech , John Kibet               BRN        DNF

Women’s

200 Metres

1 Ahouré , Murielle                CIV      22.72         10

2 Campbell-Brown , Veronica        JAM      22.82          6

3 McLaughlin-Whilby , Anneisha     JAM      22.94          4

4 Lalova-Collio , Ivet             BUL      23.04          3

5 Wei , Yongli                     CHN      23.29          2

6 Whitney , Kaylin                 USA      23.39          1

7 Townsend , Tiffany               USA      23.42

8 McGrone , Candyce                USA      23.50

9 Lin , Huijun                     CHN      23.88

1500 Metres – Women

1 Kipyegon , Faith Chepngetich     KEN    3:56.82         10

2 Obiri , Hellen Onsando           KEN    3:59.34          6

3 Seyaum , Dawit                   ETH    3:59.87          4

4 Sado , Besu                      ETH    4:00.08          3

5 Tsegay , Gudaf                   ETH    4:02.73          2

6 Simpson , Jennifer               USA    4:04.56          1

7 Ennaoui , Sofia                  POL    4:05.10

8 Chepkwemoi , Nancy               KEN    4:05.22

9 Lagat , Violah Cheptoo           KEN    4:06.77

10 Zhao , Jing                      CHN    4:09.28

11 Buckman , Zoe                    AUS    4:10.28

12 Zheng , Xiaoqian                 CHN    4:10.32

13 Johnson , Lauren                 USA    4:12.43

14 Måkestad Bovim , Ingvill         NOR    4:14.12

Tverdostup , Tamara              UKR        DNF

3000 Metres Steeplechase – Women

1 Jepkemoi , Hyvin Kiyeng          KEN    9:07.42         10

2 Jebet , Ruth                     BRN    9:15.98          6

3 Assefa , Sofia                   ETH    9:21.07          4

4 Nganga , Virginia Nyambura       KEN    9:21.15          3

5 Kirui , Purity Cherotich         KEN    9:22.47          2

6 Rotich , Lydia Chebet            KEN    9:23.49          1

7 Chespol , Celliphine Chepteek    KEN    9:24.73

8 Singh , Sudha                    IND    9:26.55

9 Zhang , Xinyan                   CHN    9:29.52

10 Chemutai , Peruth                UGA    9:31.34

11 Chepngetich , Rosefline          KEN    9:35.22

12 Chepkurui , Lidya                KEN    9:36.47

13 Babar , Lalita Shivaji           IND    9:43.30

14 Fente , Birtukan                 ETH   10:04.42

Heiner Hills , Madeline          AUS        DNF

Ayalew , Hiwot                   ETH        DNF

Tuigong , Caroline Chepkurui     KEN        DNF