Eunice Sum, Ezekiel Kemboi and Asbel Kiprop who dominated their respective events in 2013, picked up where they left off last year by registering convincing wins at the Doha grand Prix held on Friday May 9. They were cheered on by a large contingent of Kenyan expatriates who are based in Qatar.

Eunice Sum wins Doha Diamond League 800m

Eunice Sum beat world indoor champion, Channelle Price into second place. The pace setter Agatha Jeruto took the field out in 58.23 for the opening lap. Sum and Price followed close by with the rest of the field in close quarters. With 200m to go Sum and Price started to pull away from the field. Sum then shifted gears in the last 100m to out-sprint Price.  She won in 1:59.33 as Price crossed the line in 1:59.75, to join the sub 2:00 club.

Asbel Kiprop beats strong field to win Doha 1500m

Asbel Kiprop was in sensational form. And he had to be to beat a very strong field. The race was billed as an encounter between the Olympic champion, Tarek Makhloufi of Algeria and the world champion Asbel Kiprop. The race lived up to expectations. Ayaneh Souleiman of Djibouti had the lead with 200m when Kiprop made his move down the back stretch. Kiprop tried to pass Souleiman down the final curve but Souleiman held him off. Kiprop finally took the lead with 100m to go. But fellow Kenyan Silas Kiplagat then took up the chase from Souleiman. Kiprop finally won in a spectacular time of 3:29.18. Kiplagat was second in 3:29.70. Souleiman was third in a new personal best and Djibouti national record of 3:30.16 and Makhloufi was fourth in a new pb of 3:30.40 (previous pb 3:30.80).

After the race Kiprop expressed his happiness at running this fast at the beginning of the season. “I am really excited about starting the season this well. It means I am going to have a great season“.

3000m Steeplechase: Kemboi and 7 other Kenyans sweep top positions

Kenyans occupied the top 8 positions in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2014 Doha Grand Prix. The trio of Ezekiel Kemboi, Brimin Kipruto and Paul Kipsiele Koech have dominated this event for 10 years ! And they almost always finish in that order. Friday May 9 was no different. Kemboi won in 8:04.12, Kipruto was second in 8:04.67, and Koech 3rd in 8:05.57. The best non-Kenyan was Hamid Ezzine who finished 9th.

Womens 3000m

Hellen Onsando Obiri put on a spectacular performance to win the 3000m.