Kenya battles Ethiopia at the London Grand Prix - Samsund Diamond League

Submitted by editor on 6 August 2010 - 11:11pm
Tirunesh Dibaba leads an Ethiopian assault on the Kenyans during the women's 10,000m event in Nairobi last week /Photo: Yomi Omogbeja

It’s Kenya Vs Ethiopia in the 5,000m at the Aviva London Grand Prix - Samsung Diamond League meeting at the Crystal Palace track in London next weekend.

The cream of Kenya’s and Ethiopia’s athletes will be going head to head among an international field at the Diamond League event, held at Crystal Palace on August 13 and 14, in a showdown that is sure to get the crowd on their feet.

The women’s 5,000m on Friday night looks set to be a great battle, with Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot lining up against Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar.

Cheruiyot, the reigning world champion over 5,000m, currently holds the world lead time over the distance with 14:27.41 which she achieved in France last month. However, she will face tough competition from Dibaba, the reigning Olympic champion over 5,000m and 10,000m.

The Ethiopian boasts a personal best time of 14:11.15 over 5,000m which she achieved in 2008 in Oslo. Nicknamed the ‘Baby Faced Assassin’, she is renowned for her on track rivalry with Meseret Defar, who holds the indoor world record for 5,000m.

The pair’s legendary duels are few and far between and with the tough competition presented by Cheruiyot, Friday night’s race looks set to be a fantastic three way battle.

Also contesting the women’s 5,000m will be Kenya’s Mercy Cherono, Pauline Kworikwiang, Lintet, Masai, Grace Momanyi and Alice Aprot Nawowuna, and Ethiopia’s Sentayehu Ejigu.

If you would like to come down to cheer on your favourite athletes, tickets for the Aviva London Grand Prix are available by phone on 08000 556 056 or online at Ticketmasters.