After several erratic performances this season, Asbel Kiprop is showing the form that saw him win multiple world, olympic and world cross country championships. On Friday at the Herculis Diamond League meet in Monaco, Asbel put on a glorious exhibition of running that saw him quite literally blow away the field.
He won in 3:26.69. This places him third all time on the list of 1500m runners. Only Hicham El Guerrouj and Bernard Lagat have run faster. It is a new diamond league record. His pacemaker was compatriot Jackson Kivuva who did an excellent job.
Defending Olympic champion, Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria was a distant second. MO Farah was 4th. The other Kenyans in the race were newcomer Elijah Manangoi and Robert Biwott who finished 6th and 7th. Biwott who is only 19 years old is a decent 800m runner and should probably go back and focus on the 800 and forget the 1500m for now.
Race Video
| POS | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | MARK | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asbel Kiprop | 3:26.69 | |||
| 2 | Taoufik Makhloufi | 3:28.75 | |||
| 3 | Abdalaati Iguider | 3:28.79 | |||
| 4 | Mohamed Farah | 3:28.93 | |||
| 5 | Nicholas Willis | 3:29.66 | |||
| 6 | Elijah Motonei Manangoi | 3:29.67 | |||
| 7 | Robert Kiptoo Biwott | 3:30.10 | |||
| 8 | Aman Wote | 3:30.29 | |||
| 9 | Collins Cheboi | 3:30.34 | |||
| 10 | Matthew Centrowitz | 3:30.40 |
Caleb Ndiku wins 3000m
Last week, Caleb Ndiku had a nasty fall in the 5000m race at the Paris grand prix and had to be rushed to hospital. There were fears that the injury would end his season. Those fears have been dispelled as Ndiku won the 3000m at the Herculis Diamond League meet in Monaco.
It was an impressive win over a strong field that includes Yenew Alamirew of Ethiopia and Edwin Soi of Kenya.
Race Video
| POS | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | MARK | Points | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku | 7:35.13 | 4 | |||
| 2 | Yenew Alamirew | 7:36.39 | 2 | |||
| 3 | Isiah Kiplangat Koech | 7:37.16 | 1 | |||
| 4 | Edwin Cheruiyot Soi | 7:37.85 | ||||
| 5 | Garrett Heath | 7:37.97 | ||||
| 6 | Ben Blankenship | 7:38.08 | ||||
| 7 | Ali Kaya | 7:38.65 | ||||
| 8 | Hillary Kipkorir Maiyo | 7:39.70 | ||||
| 9 | Yasin Haji | 7:41.74 | ||||
| 10 | Jesús España | 7:46.53 | ||||
| 11 | Dejene Gonfa | 8:00.78 |
Dibaba smashes world record
The performances were overshadowed by Genzebe Dibaba’s world record breaking performance. She sliced 4 seconds off the world record when she clocked 3:50.07.
Kenyans have been for the most part missing from this event this season. Hellen Obiri who has been Kenya’s top miler over the past two years, has gone AWOL and has not been seen in any race this season. Obiri beat Dibaba numerous times last season.
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