In what was a much-anticipated race at the Doha Diamond League, World Champion Hellen Obiri defeated a stacked field to win the women’s 3000m, clocking a World Lead (WL) of 8:22.54 to secure the victory.
It was actually a Kenyan dominance, with Obiri holding off her compatriot Agnes Tirop who came in 2nd which saw her run a new Personal Best (PB) of 8:22.92. Not competing in the Steeplechase this time around, World Champion Beatrice Chepkoech actually ran an identical time as Tirop, which is also a new PB for her as she finished 3rd.
Margaret Kipkemboi finished 4th in 8:24.76, while Hyvin Kiyeng ran 8:25.13 to finish in 5th place, ensuring a Kenyan 1-2-3-4-5 masterclass.
Kenya extended their winning streak in the men’s 800m where World Bronze medallist, Ferguson Rotich ran a very well controlled race to win, clocking a Season’s Best (SB) of 1:44.16. For the second time this season, British athlete Elliot Giles ran a new PB Best, crossing the line in 1:44.56 to finish 2nd. Wycliffe Kinyamal placed 3rd in 1:45.68 and Peter Bol 4th in 1:45.74, while Bryce Hoppel was 3rd in 1:45.86.
With a flourish, Faith Kipyegon ran a massive PB and a World Lead (WL) of 1:57.68 to take the women’s 800m, becoming the first woman to go under 1:58 this season ahead of Spain’s fast-rising Esther Guerrero who clocked a PB of 1:59.22 to finis, with Adelle Tracey coming 3rd in 1:59.87. Habitam Alemu finished 4th in 2:00.11, while Winnie Nanyondo was 5th in 2:00.49.
Australia’s Stewart McSweyn stormed to a big PB and National Record (NR) of 3:30.51 to take the men’s 1500m, earning a thorough win over Selemon Barega who raced to a PB of 3:32.97 as Steeplechaser Soufiane El Bakkali, improved his own PB to 3:33.45 for 3rd.
Lamecha Girma who is also a Steeplechaser and the World Silver medallist in the event finished 4th in 3:33.77 (PB) with James West 5th in 3:34.07 (SB). Meanwhile, world champion, Conseslus Kipruto Did Not Finish (DNF).
Double Olympic Champion Elaine Thompson-Herah was all about consistency as she swept out to victory in the women’s 100m in a time of 10.87s (0.0m/s), two-hundredths of a second behind her WL time set in Rome a week ago.
Ivorian, Marie Josee Ta Lou came in 2nd in 11.21s, while Kayla White pipped Kristal Awuah for 3rd in 11.25s to the latter’s 11.27s (SB).
On to the barriers, Aaron Mallet powered to a huge PB of 13.15s (+0.3) to win the men’s 110mH, his 4th consecutive PB in 2020 and the 2nd fastest time of the season ahead of Swiss Jason Joseph who ran 13.40s for 2nd and David King 3rd in 13.54s.
Payton Chadwick won the women’s event in an SB of 12.78s (+1.1) from her countrywoman Taliyah Brooks in 12.86s (SB), while Cindy Ofili finished 3rd in 13.02s.
Meanwhile, Armand Duplantis, Sam Kendricks and Renaud Lavillenie in that order all soared over a Meet Record (MR) of 5.82m in the men’s Pole Vault with Duplantis taking the win on countback with no misses up to that height.
Kendricks the World Champion needed two attempts at the winning distance while Lavillenie needed all three, an SB for the Frenchman. Duplantis then took unsuccessful attempts at 5.92m and 6.00m.
