Reigning Olympic Games 1,500m champion Faith Chepng’etich Kipyegon and world 3,000m steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech reigned supreme at the Prefontaine Classic, the 7th leg of IAAF Diamond League series in USA.
Returning onto the track after a sabbatical leave, Kipyegon won in 1,500m title ahead of USA’s Laura Muir and Shelby Houlihan.
The world 1,500m champion clocked 3:59.47 to claim the title with Muir in second timing 3:59.47 and Houlihan’s 3:59.64.
Chepkoech on other hand ran her season best when she won the water and barriers title in 8:55.58 ahead of Emma Coburn (9:04.70) before former world 3,000m steeplechase champion Hyvin Kiyeng completing the podium in 9:05.81 and former world Youth champion in 2,000m steeplechase daily Jepkemei in 4th clocking 9:08.45.
After winning her first world cross country title in March during world cross country championships in Aarhus, Denmark, world 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri finished 5th in women’s 3,000m.
Obiri, the Commonwealth games 5,000m champion lost the second title in the Diamond League series when she clocked 8:27.26 ahead of former world cross country champion Agnes Jebet Tirop in 7th position in a race won by Dutch Sifan Hassan in 8:18.49.
Kenyan Davis Kiplagat was the best in men’s two mile race. Kiplagat crossed the finish line in 8:16.02 in a race won by Ugandan Joshua Chepetegei in 8:07.54.