Chepkoech dominates in Shanghai Diamond League

World 3,000m steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech raced to a comfortable win in the Shanghai Diamond League on Saturday clocking 9:04.33 to not only defend her title as she also broke the record meet.

Chepkoech was already in front after the second kilometre and was never threatened en route to her victory and subsequently erasing the previous record meet of 9:04.78 held by Bahrain’s Ruth Jebet.

World Under-20 3,000m steeplechase champion Celliphine Chespol came in second in 9:04.53 as Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai finished third in 9:17.78.

Mercy Chepkurui (9:23.59) and Fancy Cherono (9:31.00) finished fifth and eight respectively.

In the women’s 1500m Morocco’s Rabae Arafi took her first IAAF Diamond League victory in 4:40.15.

Making her move from a crowded pack in the homestretch, the Moroccan pulled ahead with about 40 metres to go to hold off Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay by 0.10 with Uganda’s Winnie Nanyondo coming third in 4:01.39, a national record.

Pre-race favourite Sifan Hassan- the European 5,000m champion faded to fifth clocking 4:01.91 with Africa 800m champion Kenya’s Winny Chebet finishing seventh in 4:02.94 as compatriot Nelly Jepkosgei came in 10th.

It was an Ethiopian clean sweep in the men’s 5,000m with Yomif Kejelcha stunning Selemon Berega to finish the race in 13:04.16 ahead of Barega (13:04.71) while Hagus Gebrhiwet came in third.

Kenya’s Nicholas Kimeli was sixth in 13:06.16 with the World Cross country champion Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda finishing seventh (13:06.68) as the World Under-20 5,000m silver medalist Stanley Waithaka finishing in position eight.

Returning from injury former world champion and Olympic silver medalist in Javelin, Julius Yego finished seventh with a throw of 77.82 metres.

“Happy to compete again and finishing the competition healthy for the first time in two years, all thanks God,average distance but with the unfriendly wind am satisfied. My focus is on the World championships in Doha,” Yego posted on his facebook page.