Newcomer Amos Kiplimo, Berlin champ Florence Kiplagat claim Nairobi Diamonds

Little-known Amos Kiplimo and Berlin Marathon champion Florence Kiplagat easily claimed victories in the inaugural CPF Nairobi Diamond 10km run.

Fresh from winning the Discovery and Kecoso Games 21km races in Eldoret, the 23-year-old Kiplimo tore the fields to shreds in 27 minutes 42.0 seconds to win men’s race.

Kiplagat, who is also the World Half Marathon record holder and won bronze in 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games over a fortnight ago in Glasgow, let her sprightly legs to do the talking in the last 500m, taking her home in 31:42.0.

The winners pocketed Sh250,000 and a diamond each courtesy of the Brussels Diamond League organisers.

Kiplimo, who won the 10 km races during last year’s Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon and Sotokoto Half Marathon, caught up with the leading pack at the 8km mark.

SPRINT BATTLE

There was an exciting exchange of leads between Kiplimo, Edwin Kiptoo and Vincent Yator. But it was the patient Kiplimo, who kicked on in the last 500m making the difference.

The 21-year-old Kiptoo, who finished third at the Morocco 10km run in April, caught up with the leading pack half way into the race but lost the sprint battle to Kiplimo, coming home second in 27:43.7 as Yator, 24, came in third in 27:44.6.

“It’s all about being patient and waiting for the right time to make the kill,” said Kiplimo, who hails from Kapngetuny.

“I decided to test their strength when I upped the momentum after the 8km mark but there response was weak hence I knew victory was mine.”

An elated Kiplimo now wants to turn his focus on a few road races before the cross country season. “I want to try my luck and see if I will get a ticket in Kenya team for the World Cross next year as well as track 5,000m,” said Kiplimo.

Kiptoo said Kiplimo’s pace deep into the last 500m and the finishing kick took away the race from him.

“I was comfortable with the pace after 8km but Kiplimo’s break changed everything,” said Kiptoo.