Wycliffe Kinyamal wins the 800m at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Shanghai (Errol Anderson) © Copyright
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 12 – Commonwealth Games champion in the 800m Wycliffe Kinyamal lit up a muggy night in the Shanghai Stadium on Saturday for the second meeting of the 2018 IAAF Diamond League season.
If the opening meeting of the world’s premier athletics circuit belonged to the one-lappers, then the second was the domain of the middle-distance runners, as Kinyamal went inside 1:44 for the second time in his career to win in a meeting record, world lead and personal best of 1:43.91.
Bram Som took the pack through the first lap in 51.20, with Jonathan Kitilit in first and Brandon McBride just behind in third. With 250 metres remaining, 20-year-old Kinyamal began motoring.
Kitilit wouldn’t give up the goat, and the pair continued to duel through to the home straight. As both athletes began to tie up, Kinyamal edged into the lead within the final 20 metres to win, finishing 0.04 ahead of Kitilit.
“A PB and meeting record, the race was fine,” demurred Kinyamal. “We were fighting for the last 100 metres, but I was stronger and I knew it. I come from the same village as Rudisha, he was always my example. Now I take over.”
Poland’s Marcin Lewandowski beat the chase to finish third in 1:45.41.
Cheruiyot gets off to a flyer
Timothy Cheruiyot reacts after winning the Diamond Trophy during the IAAF Diamond League final on August 24, 2017. PHOTO/IAAF
An equally entertaining men’s 1500m saw another Kenyan prosper in a home straight battle.
A hot pace was set from the start, Cornelius Kiplangat leading them through 800 metres in 1:53.
Young Ethiopian Samuel Tefera found himself at the front after the pacer dropped out, the world indoor champion looking startled before taking up the running. Abdelaati Iguider gave chase as Timothy Cheruiyot, who had been in second, sat in third.
The 2017 Diamond League champion Cheruiyot moved through the final bend, and although Tefera still held the lead on the straight, 22-year-old Cheruiyot‘s long stride saw him go first late to stop the clock in 3:31.48 – the fastest time by anyone this year.
Cheruiyot never doubted his kick. “I was sure I was going to win the race,” he said. “I needed to run a good time, and this race is good for the Diamond League points.”
Tefera recorded a personal best of 3:31.63, taking him to eighth on the world U20 all-time list, and finished more than a second ahead of Iguider.
World leads abound in distance events
Birhanu Balew wins the 5000m at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Shanghai (Errol Anderson) © Copyright
In the non-scoring men’s 5000m, Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew prevailed over Olympic silver medallist Paul Chelimo, posting a world-leading 13:09.64 in the process.
In the women’s 3000m steeplechase – also a non-scoring event – Beatrice Chepkoech won after Norah Jeruto slipped on the wet track in a sprint for the line. Chepkoech didn’t have to push for the win, yet still recorded a world-leading 9:07.27. Jeruto picked herself up for second.
