Sum, Birech out to consolidate Series leads
PHOTO | FILIPPO MONTEFORTE | FILE Kenya's Jairus Kipchoge Birech celebrates after winning the 3000m men's steeplechase event on June 5, 2014, at Rome's Olympics stadium during the Golden Gala as a part of the IAAF Diamond League.
What you need to know:
- Sum won her season opener in Doha on May 9 in a world leading time of 1:59.33 before pulling away in the final straight to claim victory in 1:59.49 at Rome on June 5.
- The 2007 World Champion Janeth Jepkosgei and Agatha Jeruto will also be in the two-lap race.
- In the absence of the three reigning global 1500m champions, Kenya’s Silas Kiplagat appears the favourite to win the metric mile race
World 800m champion Eunice Sum and 3,000m steeplechaser Jairus Birech will be hoping to consolidate their 2014 IAAF Diamond League Series leads with victories in Lausanne on Thursday.
Sum won her season opener in Doha on May 9 in a world-leading time of 1:59.33 before pulling away in the final straight to claim victory in 1:59.49 at Rome on June 5. She will be aiming for her third victory in this year's series.
(READ: Sum proves critics wrong)
Sum’s last loss over 800m was more than a year ago, but the Kenyan will face Russia's Olympic bronze medallist Yekaterina Poistogova, who is the fastest in the field this year with 1:58.55.
The 2007 World Champion Janeth Jepkosgei and Agatha Jeruto will also be in the two-lap race.
SEASON'S REVELATION
Birech has been one of the quiet revelations of the 2014 season. He won in Rome and Oslo, clocking a world-leading 8:02.37 in the latter.
He will be up against experienced compatriots Brimin Kipruto and Paul Kipsiele Koech, two of the fastest men in history, with Conseslus Kipruto -who has been out through injury - also in contention.
The 19-year-old Kipruto took the silver medal at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow last year while still a junior and won three IAAF Diamond League meetings in 2013. The teenager hasn’t raced outdoors on the track this year.
In the women’s 3000m, current series leader Mercy Cherono, who won in New York, and Ethiopia's Genzebe Dibaba — who has four points from Rome — will battle out for top honours with Hellen Obiri, who has four points following a dominant victory in Doha, out of the race.
In the absence of the three reigning global 1500m champions, Kenya’s Silas Kiplagat appears the favourite to win the metric mile race with compatriot James Magut and Ethiopian record older Aman Wote the most likely contenders. Already this year, the 2011 world silver medallist has dipped below the 3:30 barrier and won at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Rome.
