Rudisha tips hat to Rotich as Yego improves

World 800m record holder ‘King David’ Rudisha was stunned for the second time this season by domestic rival Ferguson Rotich while world Javelin champion, Julius Yego improved to third as the eighth stop of the IAAF Diamond League unfolded in Stockholm on Thursday night.

It is common knowledge that wet weather is the biggest chink in the Olympics and world champion’s armour and with the rain pouring in the Swedish capital; the challengers sensed their opportunity to upset the favourite.

“Congratulation Ferguson Rotich for winning ‪#‎StockholmDL 800m and all the others who participated, hey including me, though weather wasn’t so great….. All the best guys. ‪#‎RoadtoRio,” the London Olympics and Beijing Worlds winner wrote on his Twitter account.

“This is how it was yesterday thanks to God,my fellow athletes Rudisha, Kitum, Bosse, Kszcot, Aman,Som, my manager Marc, coach,my family and my fans for their support my win is for you people.ROAD TO RIO#NIKE#JUST DO IT ‪#‎GOD KNOWS,” the elated Rotich wrote in his Facebook wall.

Rudisha dominated the better part of the race until France’s Pierre-Ambroise Bosse who followed him home over 600m at the Birmigham meet charged past him, and tried to get the lead but the favourite caught up to ensure he had to run the final turn on his outside as Rotich opted to run behind the pair patiently.

The fourth finisher at the Beijing came wider and faster and swept to the front with 30 meters to run, eventually crossing the line in 1:45.07. Bosse held on for second in 1:45.41, with Rudisha fading to fourth in 1:45.69.

After struggling for form thus far this season, Commonwealth and two-time African winner, Julius Yego needed a confident boosting throw as the men’s Javelin field gathered to try and catch up with the run-away world leader, Thomas Rohler of Germany.

It was Beijing silver medalist and sometimes Yego’s training partner; Ihab Abdelrahman of Egypt who left with a second win of the season with 86.00m ahead of the German (85.89) as Yego improved from his seventh finish in Oslo to throw 83.09 for third.

It was still below his 84.68m season’s best posted at the Eugene meet in Oregon but it will give the ‘You Tube Man’ encouragement ahead of the Kenyan Trials and Rio Olympics.

With world champion, Hyvin Kiyeng missing from the women 3000m steeple, Bahrain’s world junior champion, Ruth Jebet was unstoppable as she won the race in a stadium record of 9:08.37, one of the five set on the night to receive a small diamond from organisers.

Kenya’s Beatrice Koech (9:22.56) was well behind in second in a race that was at world record pace at halfway before the rain slowed down the charging Bahraini with Ethiopia’s Sofia Assefa (9:27.73) further back to round the podium.

Beijing men 400m Hurdles champion, Nicholas Bett once again flattered to deceive with a fifth finish in 51.14 in a showdown won by London silver medallist, Javier Culson in 49.43, benefitting from the disqualification of two-time World Champion Bershawn Jackson and the withdrawal of Michael Tinsley who was leading until the final bend before he pulled.

Istanbul 2014 World Indoor champion, Hellen Obiri (4:05.88) was forced down to the field in the women 1500m contest where Poland’s Angelika Cichocka stunned the field for her first victory of the season in 4:03.25.

Material from IAAF used to compile this report