World 5000m bronze medalist Beatrice Chebet and world 800m silver medalist Emmanuel Wanyonyi showcased their prowess at the Xiamen Diamond League, both setting world-leading times on Saturday.
Chebet, fresh from her outstanding performance in Budapest where she clinched a world medal, dominated the women’s 3000m event, recording a new personal best, meeting record, and world-leading time of 8:24.05.
Expressing her joy, Chebet stated, “I am very happy to break my season best as well as my personal best. I was the Diamond League Final winner. I still feel motivated and believe in myself that I can achieve more. The support from the fans and the excellent stadium atmosphere are really encouraging. I am also looking forward to the upcoming games.”
On the other hand, Wanyonyi had to give it his all to edge out world champion Marco Arop of Canada at the finish line. He achieved a personal best and meeting record with a time of 1:43.20.
This victory served as sweet revenge for Wanyonyi, who had been defeated by Arop just a week earlier in the finals of the men’s 800m in Budapest. Commonwealth Games champion Wycliffe Kinyamal finished fourth in the same race.
In the women’s 1500m, Nelly Chepchirchir secured the second spot with a personal best time of 3:76.52, while Ethiopia’s Hailu Freyweni claimed victory in 3:56.56.
In the men’s 3000m steeplechase, former world junior champion Amos Serem clinched third place in an event won by Soufiane El Bakali of Morocco.
World bronze medalist Abraham Kibiwott and Olympic bronze medalist Benjamin Kigen finished fourth and eighth, respectively.
