Double Olympic Games gold medalist Beatrice Chebet was the only Kenyan to have won at the Rome Diamond League held today in Rome, Italy.
The double world cross country champion ran with a world lead and meeting record of 14:03.69 for women’s 5000m title ahead of Ethiopia’s Hailu Freweyni (14:19.33) with Italian Nadia Battocletti setting the national record of 14:23.15.
This was the second victory for Chebet after winning Rabat title two weeks ago in the 3,000m in 8:11.56.
Former world 1,500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot came second in the 1,500m race.
For the first time, Cheruiyot hit the podium with a season best of 3:29.75 in the men’s 1500m, in a race won by Frenchman Azzedine Habz at 3:29.72 with Moroccan Annas Essayi finished third in 3:30.74.
Another Kenyan, the former World Under 20 champion Reynold Cheruiyot timed 3:30.94 to finish sixth as African Games 1,500m champion Brian Komen coming 8th in 3:31.14.
For the second time in a row, the reigning Commonwealth Games 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala hit the podium, after finishing third in the 100m race.
The Africa, both 100m and 150m record holder crossed the finish line in 10.01 behind American Trayvon Bromell who won the race in 9.84 with Cameroonian Emmanuel Eseme second at 9.99.
Last Saturday, Omanyala finished 3rd at the Kip Keino Classic World Continental Tour Gold at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, Nairobi in 10.07 behind Australian Kennedy Lachlan.
Selected Kenyans results
1,500m men
- Azeddine Habz (FRA) 3:29.72
- Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) 3:29.75
- Anass Essayi (MAR) 3:30.74
5,000m women
- Beatrice Chebet (KEN) 14:03.69
- Freweyni Hailu (ETH) 14:19.33
- Nadia Battocleti (ITA) 14:23.15
100m men
- Trayvon Bromell (USA) 9.84
- Emmanuel Eseme (CMR) 9:99
- Ferdinand Omanyala (KEN) 10.01