Chepkoech Burns Shanghai DL Tartan, Yego Bounces Back With 77.82m Throw
18th May 2019
World women steeplechase record holder beats compatriot Chespol in the Kenyan 1-2 with a new meet record of 9:04.53
- Chepkoech, the world record holder was already in front after the second kilometre and never threatened en route to her 9:04.53 performance, another early season world lead. Chespol the two-time World Under 20 titleholder was a distant second, clocking 9:11.10
- Yego, the African champion who is aiming to reclaim the world title he won in China later this year finished seventh on his first outing but after an injury plagued intervening period since his finest hour, the Olympic silver medallist believes he will be in better shape at the Doha Worlds later this year
- Three strides later, Samba was in the lead for good, padding his advantage as he cleared hurdle ten before crossing the line in 47.27, the second fastest time of his career in just his second race of the season
SHANGHAI, China- Beatrice Chepkoech smashed the Shanghai Diamond League women 3000m steeplechase record after leading compatriot Celliphine Chespol to the Kenyan 1-2 as Beijing 2015 world champion, Julius Yego threw a credible 77.82m in the men's Javelin on Saturday afternoon in China.
Chepkoech, the world record holder was already in front after the second kilometre and never threatened en route to her 9:04.53 performance, another early season world lead. Chespol the two-time World Under 20 titleholder was a distant second, clocking 9:11.10.
Yego, the African champion who is aiming to reclaim the world title he won in China later this year finished seventh on his first outing but after an injury plagued intervening period since his finest hour, the Olympic silver medallist believes he will be in better shape at the Doha Worlds later this year.
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"Happy to compete again and finishing the competition healthy for the first time in two years. All thanks God, average distance but with the unfriendly wind am satisfied.
"Now all focus is comes ahead before the world champs in Doha, will be back," Yego wrote on his Facebook page immediately after opening his campaign.
The men’s javelin was decided early, with Andreas Hofmann sealing the win with an 87.55m first round effort, an early season world lead.
Cheng Chao-Tsun of Chinese Taipei, the Asian record holder, was second with 87.12m, a season’s best. Olympic champion Thomas Rohler opened his season a distant fourth, reaching 82.95m.
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Following up on a sensational indoor season, Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha opened with a convincing victory in the 5000m, holding off Selemon Barega 13:04.16 to 13:04.71, for another world lead.
Podium sweep
Hagos Gebrhiwet rounded out the Ethiopian podium sweep just another step behind in 13:04.83, with Birhanu Balew of Bahrain next in 13:05.04.
While those two races followed conventional wisdom, there was an upset in the women's 1500m with Rababe Arafi taking the victory in 4:01.15 for her first Diamond League triumph.
Making her move from a crowded pack in the homestretch, the Moroccan pulled ahead with about 40 metres to go to hold off Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay by 0.10.
Uganda's Winnie Nanyondo was third in 4:01.39, a national record.
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Sifan Hassan, perhaps slowed by recent treks to much longer distances, couldn't respond in the waning stages and faded to fifth, clocking 4:01.91.
Once again, Abderrahman Samba stole the Diamond League spotlight with another superb performance to highlight the Shanghai meet.
Already in the spotlight as the key protagonist in the meeting’s most eagerly anticipated face-off, Samba lived up to expectations with a decisive victory over Rai Benjamin in the pair’s first head-to-head battle.
Running to the Qatari’s outside in lane five, Benjamin, the third fastest 400m hurdler of all-time, took the early lead, leading Samba, history’s second fastest ever, by about half a stride until the pair reached the fifth hurdle.
Samba briefly pulled ahead, but Benjamin kept up the pressure through the turn as they approached hurdle nine.
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There, Benjamin lost his rhythm, giving Samba an opening he took full advantage of.
Three strides later, Samba was in the lead for good, padding his advantage as he cleared hurdle ten before crossing the line in 47.27, the second fastest time of his career in just his second race of the season.
-Material from iaaf.org used to compile this report