By Feverpitch Reporter and IAAF
The Kenyan brigade at Shanghai's second IAAF Diamond League meeting did not disappoint during a meeting where seven world-leading times were recorded.
Gladys Jerotich Kipkemboi beat compatriot and World Championships bronze winner, Milka Chemos to top honours in the women's 3,000m steeplechase in a world leading mark of 9:16.82.
Jerotich who was eighth in Berlin, took control of the race over the final kilometre to lead the Kenyan clean podium sweep, with Chemos dipping in second with 9:20.63 ahead of Lydia Rotich who registered a career best 9:21.38 for third.
"Wow," the tiny 23-year-old told IAAF after she left her compatriot Chemos, a well-beaten runner-up. "I can't believe that I won!" The fourth Kenyan on show, Elizabeth Mueni, came eighth in 9:53.33.
In the women's 800m, Olympic champion, Pamela Jelimo had another disastrous outing, finishing eighth in 2:03.89 where compatriot and World Championships silver medallist, Janeth Jepkosgei reigned supreme in 2:01.06 on her Diamond League debut.
Jelimo had raised hopes of a comeback to form with a second place finish at sixth Colourful Daegu Pre-Championships Meeting where she ran 2:01.52 and this latest performance will compound worries on her collapse in form since taking the women's 800m world running by storm in 2008.
Claimed victory
Commonwealth champion, Augustine Choge claimed victory over Olympics gold medallist, Asbel Kiprop in a thrilling finish to the men's 1500m.
Choge managed to hold off a powerful late race charge by Kiprop in the race where the winner carried a substantial lead into the final stretch, reaching the line in 3:32.20, to nip the Olympics champion, who ran out of room after misjudging his finish, by a scant .02.
"With 250 metres to go I was messing up," admitted Kiprop, who was running nearly last at the time.
William Biwott (3:33.67), Geoffrey Rono (3:33.92), Suleiman Simotwo (3:33.96), Nixon Chepseba (3:33.99), Africa champion, Haron Keitany (3:37.87), 2003 World 5,000m champion, Eliud Kipchoge (3:38.36) and Alex Kipchirchir (3:39.22) occupied fourth to tenth positions.
Career best
In the women's 5,000m, World 10,000m champion, Linet Masai was beaten by Ethiopian World indoor 3000m bronze medallist, Sentayehu Ejigu who used her experience at the shorter distances to her advantage.
Masai clocked 14:31.14, a personal best over the distance that was bettered by Ejigu's 14:90.36, a world lead and meet record with her compatriot and Africa 10,000m champion, Meselech Melkamu coming home third in 14:31.91 also a career best in the fast race.
World silver medallist in the distance, Silva Kibet (14:31.91, personal best) placed just outside the podium in fourth in a dead heat finish with Melkamu with World Cross and World Junior 3,000m champion, Mercy Cherono finishing seventh (14:47.13, PB) on her international senior circuit meeting debut.
Other Kenyans in the event, Viola Kibiwott (14:48.57, PB), Margaret Wangari (14:48.94) and last year's World Cross senior women champion, Florence Kiplagat (15:23.30) who is returning from serious injury finished eighth, ninth and 11th.
The IAAF Diamond League encompasses 32 individual event disciplines.
Source: The Standard | Online Edition
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