Alfred Kipketer, Ronald Kwemoi, Hellen Obiri shine in Monaco

World 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Consenslus Kipruto glided to his fifth straight Diamond League victory this season as Hellen Obiri claimed a double in women’s 3,000m on Friday night in Monaco.

Also to warm up in style for the forthcoming Rio Olympic Games were World Junior 800m champion Alfred Kipketer and World junior 1,500m record holder Ronald Kwemoi, who claimed their maiden DL victories in their specialties.

FINISHED SIXTH

Kwemoi glided through 400m in 53.77 and 800m at 1:49.95 to triumph in a season’s best of 3:30.49, relegating World 1,500m silver medallist Elijah Manangoi to second also in a season’s best of 3:31.19 as Olympic champion Taoufik Makhloufi from Algeria settled third in 3:31.35 (SB).

Three-time World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop settled sixth in 3:32.31 behind Olympic and World 10,000m and 5,000m champion Mo Farah came in 3:31.74.

The Kenyan trio are in the Olympics team.

“I must congratulate my teammates Manangoi and Kwemoi for executing it right in Monaco last night,” said Kiprop. “Nothing was lost as they both saved the day in 1500m.”

Kiprop said circumstances leading to the race where his manager Federico Rosa was charged in court before being locked up affected his performance.

“I think no one can handle the amount of pressure I have had for the past 10 days and be able to deliver no matter how strong you are,” added Kiprop.

It was not a good night for World junior 800m champion Margaret Nyairera who finished third in personal best 1:56.64 in her race but was later disqualified for a lane infringement.

The 2009 World champion Caster Semenya won the race a world-leading and Diamond League record time of 1:55.33, also breaking her own national record with Burundian Francine Niyonsaba finishing second in a national record of 1:56.24.

There were no surprises as Kipruto won his race in 8:08.11 for an unassailable lead in the overall standings after previous victories in Doha, Rabat, Rome and Birmingham.

“I could have done a faster time today but I did not want to push myself to the limit,” the World silver medallist said. “I preferred to smile at the finish line and save some energy for Rio.”

KENYANS SWEEP PODIUM

Veteran Paul Kipsiele Koech finished second in a season best of 8:08.32 while Barnabas Kipyego recorded a personal best of 8:09.13 to wind third.

Kipketer, who is also in Team Kenya for Olympic Games, cashed on the absence of compatriots Ferguson Rotich and Olympic and World champion David Rudisha to win in 1:44.47, beating Adam Kszczot (1:44.49) and Marcin Lewandowski (1:44.5) all from Poland.

Obiri, the 2013 World 1,500m bronze medallist and 2012 World Indoor 3,000m champion, won her second race of the season, clocking 8:24.27 in women’s 3,000m race after timing 2:08.9 for the final 800m.

It was a podium sweep for the Kenyan women, who are preparing for Olympics as Commonwealth 5,000m champion Mercy Cherono and Janet Kisa settled second and third in 8:27.25 and 8:28.33 respectively.

Obiri won the 5,000m race at Prefontaine Classic in a personal best 14:32.02. The trio are in the 5,000m team for Rio Olympics.