NAIROBI — World 3000m steeplechase champion Religion Cherotich and Commonwealth Video games champion Ferdinand Omanyala will spearhead a wealthy Kenyan aspect that will likely be in competition on the second leg of this yr’s Diamond League in Xiamen, China on Saturday after (Might 23).
Following on from the opener in Shanghai – a weekend in the past – the second leg guarantees a thriller for athletics fanatic because the race for the general Diamond League Trophy begins to take form in every class.
With no main athletics occasion deliberate for 2026, this prestigious one-day occasion will captivate the eye and sources of all concerned, what with the profitable prize cash at supply in addition to the status that comes with it.
Cherotich will likely be competing within the water-hurdles-and-barrier race the place she will likely be up towards acquainted foes within the type of Ugandan Peruth Chemutai and Olympic champion Winfred Yavi, amongst others.
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Final weekend’s opener in Shanghai supplied a glimpse of the unfolding monitor rivalry between the trio, Chemutai successful the newest spherical of the competition.
With Bahrain’s Yavi lacking in motion, it narrowed right down to Chemutai v Cherotich, the 2020 Olympic champion staving off the problem of her youthful peer to cross the end line in a world lead of 8:51.47.
It’s the similar situation within the males’s 100m the place Omanyala will likely be seeking to prolong his newfound sizzling streak through which he has clocked a sub-10 in his final 4 races.
Having struggled hirtherto, Africa’s quickest man appears to have rediscovered his mojo, clocking 9.98 to complete second in Shanghai.
The startlist stays largely unchanged, with South Africa’s Reward Leotlela hoping to make it two out of two with one other win in Xiamen.
Different names to be careful for embrace Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, Olympic 200m silver medallist Kenneth Bednarek, Olympic 4x100m relay bronze medallist Akani Simbine of South Africa, and 2019 World 100m champion Christian Coleman, amongst others.
In the meantime, the 2019 World 1500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot will look to redeem himself within the males’s 5000m after a tricky begin to his Diamond League season in Shanghai.
The 2020 Olympic silver medallist completed fourth within the males’s 3000m, timing a private greatest (PB) of seven:27.24 in what was a intently contested race.
In Xiamen, he will likely be flying the nationwide flag alongside African Video games bronze medallist Cornelius Kemboi, American-based Edwin Kurgat, Boaz Kiprugut and Matthew Kipsang Kipchumba.
Equally for World 1500m silver medallist Dorcus Ewoi, Xiamen is a chance to atone for Shanghai the place she completed fifth in the identical race, after clocking a season’s greatest (SB) of three:57.74.
The American-based runner will take heed to what to anticipate in Xiamen contemplating the startlist stays unchanged.
Ethiopian Birke Haylom, who cruised to victory in a world lead of three:55.56, will likely be again in motion as will likely be Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull of Australia.