Kenya sweep steeplechase, Ethiopian Alamirew shines in Doha - SDL

Submitted by editor on 7 May 2011 - 9:27am
Ethiopia's Yenew Alamirew / Photo: Samsung Diamond League

Milcah Chemos Cheiywa led a Kenyan 1-2-3 in the women's 3000m steeplechase, Ethiopia's Yenew Alamirew upsets Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge in the men's 3000m and South African pair checkmated American Bershawn Jackson at the Samsung Diamond League meeting in Doha.

Cheiywa edged out Mercy Wanjiku Njoroge in a sprint finish after the final hurdle stopping the clock at 9:16.44 and 0.05 seconds ahead of Njoroge (9:16.94).

Lydia Jebet Rotich was third in 9:19.20 ahead of Ethiopians Sofia Assefa (9:25.08) and Birtukan Fente Alemu (9:38.25) in fourth and fifth respectively.

"The Diamond League is very important for me," Cheiywa commented after the race. "Last year I won the race and hopefully I can repeat this success. It is very important for my family and my country."

"My time is good at the beginning of the outdoor season, but I could have run faster today. The pacemakers were very fast and it prevented me from achieving a better result," she said.

Cheiywa's time in the event beat Ugandan Dorcus Inzikuru's 2005 meeting record of 9:28.50 by over 12 seconds.

Tight race

Kenyan Asbel Kiprop, the 2010 Diamond Trophy winner over 1500, made a winning start to his 2011 Race, winning over 800m in 1:44.74 after a tight race against Britain's Michael Rimmer.

Kiprop pulled away in the finishing straight but Rimmer held off another fast-finishing Kenyan, Alfred Yego, for second in 1:45.12. Yego, the 2007 world champion, clocked 1:45.17.

Young Nixon Chepseba, one of seven Kenyans in the field who triumphed in 3:31.84 over compatriot Silas Kiplagat, the fastest man of 2010, who held off Mekonnen Gebremedhin as the Ethiopian proved unable to take advantage of the rowdy Ethiopian support.

Gebremedhin clocked 3:32.28, 13 hundredths behind the young Kenyan.

Alamirew's show

But it was the 20-year-old Ethiopian Yenew Alamirew who stole the show blasting away from former world champion, Eliud Kipchoge from Kenya, 200m out with a string of runners behind him.

Roared on by the large Ethiopian contingent in the crowd, Alamirew stormed home in 7:27.26. It was a PB by 1.5s for the unheralded Alamirew as the next five also eclipsed their lifetime bests.

Kenyan Edwin Soi sneaked ahead of his fading compatriot Kipchoge for second in 7:27.55 with Kipchoge third 11 hundredths behind. Another Kenyan, Augustine Choge, also broke 7:30 in fourth, clocking 7:28.76.

SA double

Louis van Zyl confirmed his great early season form with a great 400m hurdles victory over Bershawn Jackson in 48.11, good enough to erase Samuel Matete's 12-year-old meeting record.

Cornel Jackson made it a South African one-two as he stole second 0.01s ahead the American with 48.43. Jackson, who won in Doha last year, fought back around the final bend against the fast-starting van Zyl but was outrun by the two South Africans down the home straight.

Van Zyl, who already leads the world this year with 47.66, had good reason to be satisfied with his victory on a blustery evening, while the American was philosophical in defeat, saying that it is only his second race of the year.

Selected Results:

Men's 400m hurdles:
1) LJ van Zyl (RSA) 48.11 (MR)
2) Cornel Fredericks (RSA) 48.43
3) Bershawn Jackson (USA) 48.44

Men's 800m
1) Asbel Kiprop (KEN) 1:44.74
2) Michael Rimmer (GBR) 1:45.12
3) Alfred Kirwa Yego (KEN) 1:45.17
4) Richard Kiplagat (KEN) 1:45.48

Women's 1500m
1) Anna Mishchenko (UKR) 4:03.00 WL
2) Irene Jelagat (KEN) 4:04.89
3) Siham Hilali (MAR) 4:05.18
4) Viola Kibiwot (KEN) 4:05.54
5) Gezahegne Kalkidan (ETH) 4:06.52

Women's 400m:
1) Allyson Felix (USA) 50.33
2) Amantle Montsho (BOT) 50.41
3) Patricia Hall (JAM) 51.74

Women's Long Jump
1) Funmi Jimoh (USA) 6.88m WL
2) Maurren Higa Maggi (BRA) 6.87m SB
3) Anna Nazarova (RUS) 6.77m

Men's 200m
1) Walter Dix (USA) 20.06 WL
2) Femi Ogunode (QAT) 20.30 NR
3) Jaysuma Saidy Ndure (NOR) 20.55

Women's 200m
1) LaShauntea Moore (USA) 22.83
2) Charonda Williams (USA) 22.95;
3) Patricia Hall (JAM) 23.16 PB
4) Blessing Okagbare (NGR) 23.19
5) Aleksandra Fedoriva (RUS) 23.31

Women's 100m hurdles
1) Kellie Wells (USA) 12.58 WL
2) Danielle Carruthers (USA) 12.64
3) Lolo Jones (USA) 12.67
4) Virginia Powell-Crawford (USA) 12.73 SB

Men's Triple Jump
1) Teddy Tamgho (FRA) 17.49m WL/MR
2) Leevan Sands (BAH) 17.09m SB
3) Alexis Copello (CUB) 17.05m

Men's 3000m
1) YenewAlamirew (ETH) 7:27.26 WL/PB
2) Edwin Cheruiyot Soi (KEN) 7:27.55 PB
3) Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 7:27.66 PB
4) Augustine Kiprono Choge (KEN) 7:28.76 PB
5) Vincent Kiprop Chepkok (KEN) 7:30.15 PB
6) Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (KEN) 7:31.41 PB
7) Moses Ndiema Kipsiro (UGA) 7:31.83
8) Tariku Bekele (ETH) 7:33.50 PB

Women's 3000m S/C
1) Milcah Chemos Cheiywa (KEN) 9:16.44 WL
2) Mercy Wanjiku Njoroge (KEN) 9:16.94 PB
3) Lydia Jebet Rotich (KEN) 9:19.20
4) Sofia Assefa (ETH) 9:25.08
5) Birtukan Fente Alemu (ETH) 9:38.29 PB

Men's 1500m
1) Nixon Kiplimo Chepseba (KEN) 3:31.84 WL
2) Silas Kiplagat (KEN) 3:32.15
3) Mekonnen Gebremedhin (ETH) 3:32.28
4) Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku (KEN) 3:33.05

Next stop for the 14 event Samsung Diamond League in 2011 is Shanghai, China on May 15.

[SDL Doha 2011 – Laurel International]