Kenyan athletes Daniel Simiu and Lilian Rengeruk clinched victories at the Brussels Diamond League on Friday night, marking an impressive performance.
The Brussels meet served as the penultimate leg of the 2023 Diamond League circuit, leading up to the final event in Oregon, USA, next weekend.
Fresh from securing a silver medal at the World Championships in Budapest, Daniel Simiu achieved a new personal best time of 26:57.80 in the 10,000m non-Diamond League race, earning him first place. France’s Jimmy Gressier finished second with a time of 27:25.48, and Stanley Waithaka came in third at 27:30.36.
Simiu expressed his satisfaction with the win, crediting the supportive crowd and his training. He said, “It feels so good to win here tonight.
The crowd was very good tonight, and that helped me. It was very hot, and a lot of athletes suffered, but I felt perfect, and this is what I trained for. I am so thankful and I thank God that I finally ran such a good time.”
In the women’s 5000m, Lilian Rengeruk secured victory with a time of 14:26.46. She outpaced Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa, who finished second in 14:28.94.
Kenyan athletes Winnie Jemutai and Edinah Jebitok placed fourth and ninth, respectively. Rengeruk expressed joy at the win and appreciated the enthusiastic crowd’s support during her race.
She said, “I am very happy with my win today. The crowd was so loud I found it hilarious and helpful during my race. I’m just happy it felt good, and I hope to get the win in Eugene.”
Reynold Cheruiyot, the World Under-20 1500m champion, achieved a new national record in the men’s 2000m, securing second place with a time of 4:48.14. Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway finished first, obliterating the world record with a time of 4:43.13.
Abel Kipsang placed seventh with a time of 4:50.68. Commonwealth 800m champion Wycliffe Kinyamal finished seventh in the two-lap race at 1:44.38, and Nelly Chepchirchir took third place in the women’s 1500m at 3:56.93.
