Another poor run by Jelimo

• Olympic 800m champ finishes last in US as Asbel Kiprop, Kipsiele Koech win

Olympic 1,500m silver medallist Asbel Kiprop, Paul Kipsiele Koech and Vivian Cheruyiot triumphed in their respective races in Eugene, USA at the Nike Prefontaine Classic meeting which is part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour.

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However, it was yet another poor performance by 800m Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo and Nancy Jebet Lagat in their respective specialities.

Jelimo, running in her second international race since her triumph in Beijing last year, could only manage a last slot in the two lap race while Jebet, the Olympic 1,500m champion could only manage eighth position.

No response

Jelimo was a sixth finisher in her first race in Rabat last month and had no response to the charges of Maggie Vessey of United States, who was a surprise winner in the women’s 800m in 2:00.18.

Jelimo, running well below par, faded to last in the seven-runner field clocking 2:05.57. Kenia Sinclair (Jamaica) was second in 2:01.02 ahead of Jemma Simpson (Britain) 2:01.10.

In women four lap race, Lagat, again failed to show her class as she came eighth in 4:05.05 in a race won by Gelete Burka of Ethiopia in 3:59.89. Jenny Barringer (USA) settled for second slot in 3:59.90 while Anna Alminova (Russia) was third after taking 4:01.44.

World 5,000m silver medallist Vivian Cheruiyot beat World 1500m champion Maryam Jamal (Bahrain) to win the women’s 2000m race.

Cheruiyot, who is expected to double up in both 5,000m and 10,000m race at the Berlin World Championship clocked 5:31.52 while Jamal’s time was 5:31.88. Both runners eclipsed the previous best time of 5:32.7 run in the USA set by Mary Decker at Hayward Field in 1984.

Seek speed

Linet Masai, a fourth finisher at the Olympics in the 10,000m race, dropped down to the 2000m race to seek speed and was third in 5:33.43 ahead of Sally Kipyego 5:35.20 while Pauline Korikwiang, four two student at Riruta satellite school in Nairobi came in fifth in 5:38.11.

Olympic 1500m medallist Asbel Kiprop just missed an all time US record in the Bowerman Mile in the meet finale, clocking 3:48.50 to come up short of the record of 3:48.28 run by compatriot Daniel Kipchirchir Komen in the 2007 Prefontaine meet.

Kiprop overtook training mate Haron Keitany on the homestretch before slowing at the finish while waving to the crowd. Thirteen runners deeped under four minutes to equal the 1995 meet for the highest number in meet history.