Yavi dominates again at Zurich Diamond League

In an exact repeat of the World Championships final results, Yavi clocked 9:03.19 to pip world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech who placed second in 9:03.70 while Faith Cherotich rounded out the podium just like she did on Sunday in Budapest.

“This is all I wanted and what I was working for. I have been working hard and training hard to be a world champion. And to win the Diamond League in Zurich - that was my next dream. My program is still full - I have the final in Eugene and then the Asian Games. Still a long season to go but I feel strong,” Yavi said.

She added, “I have dreamed about this for a long time and it makes me feel that I have to believe in myself and to keep on believing. I'm very excited - today, it felt almost like the same race as in Budapest so I wanted to confirm my victory.

After bagging silver in Budapest, Chepkoech says her body is responding well after battling a series of injuries in the recent past.

"I think today it was so easy because we didn't want to push hard after the World Championships in Budapest. You know, in Budapest we went out hard, and I felt that my body was shutting down, but after running that global final my body started to come back up again. In the last few days I just focused on some easy running, resting and getting a lot of sleep,” said Chepkoech.

In the men’s 1500m race, Kenya’s Abel Kipsang finished third in 3:30.85 behind winner Yared Nuguse of USA and world champion Josh Kerr of Great Britain who finished second.  Another Kenyan Reynold Cheruiyot placed eighth.

The Diamond League circuit will now head to Xiamen, China on Saturday for its 12th leg with the finals set to be held on September 16-17 in Oregon, USA.