WORLD ATHLETICS SILVER MEDALIST IN THE 800M EMMANUEL WANYONYI . photo: courtesy
World Athletics Cross Country gold medalists’ Beatrice Chebet and Emmanuel Wanyonyi reigned supreme at the Xiamen Diamond league, on Saturday, September 2nd , in China, in the women’s 3,000m and men’s 800m races.
The 23 year old ,Chebet, a World Athletics Championship bronze medalist in the 5,000m, set a meeting record (MR) and a world lead (WL) of eight minutes, 24.05 seconds for top podium place. She was followed closely by Laura Galván of Mexico, who set a national record of 8:28.05 while compatriot Margaret Akidor took third place in 8:29.88.
“I am very happy to break my season best as well as my person best. I was the Diamond League Final winner last year. I still feel motivated and I believe myself that I can do it. There were a lot of fans out there to support us. I think the stadium and the audience are really good. I am also looking forward to the ensuing game.” Said Chebet.
In the men’s 800m, World silver medalist Emmanuel Wanyonyi, won his third diamond league race and also set WL and MR of one minute, 43.20 seconds, beating World Athletics champion Marco Arop of Canada. Arop settled for second place with a personal best of 1:43.24 while Benjamin Robert of France came in third in 1:43.88. Two-time Commonwealth champion, Wycliffe Kinyamal finished fourth in 1:44.04 having made a quick recovery from an injury recently suffered during the Budapest World Athletics Championships in the men’s 4X400m heats.
Meanwhile, in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, Olympics and 2X World champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco, continued his dominance and claimed victory in eight minutes, 10.31 seconds and also set a meeting record. Samuel Firewu of Ethiopia took second place in 8:11.29 , as Commonwealth bronze medalist, Amos Serem grabbed third place with a season best of 8:14.41. Abraham Kibiwot, who fell during the World Championships 3,000m steeplechase final and took bronze, finished fourth in 8:15.87.
In the women’s 1,500m Nelly Chepchirchir made an improvement in her performance. Chepchirchir was going for a win after passing Freweyni Hailu of Ethiopia. However, Hailu had some gas left and cruised past her few meters to the finish line and claimed victory in 3:56.56 while Chepchirchir set a personal best of 3:56.72 for second place. Linden Hall of Australia finished third in 3:57.92
The Xiamen Diamond League, made its debut on athletics’ premier one-day meeting series in 2023, after agreeing a deal to host a Wanda Diamond League meeting for the next ten years.
Xiamen replaced Shenzhen as the location for the meeting on September 2nd and will continue to host one of two Chinese Wanda Diamond League meetings until 2032.
The Wanda Diamond League, is the premier one-day meeting series in athletics. It comprises 14 of the most prestigious events in global track and field. Athletes compete for points at the 13 series meetings in a bid to qualify for the two-day Wanda Diamond League Final in Eugene on 16th-17th September.
