Nyambura to the rescue as Nijel stuns Rudisha again

Fast-rising Virginia Nyambura came to Kenya’s rescue in women’s 3,000m steeplechase race of a thrilling Lausanne Diamond League meet on Thursday night where Botswana’s Nijel Amos once again floored David Rudisha in the 800m.

The Diamond League javelin record-holder, Julius Yego, fondly known as “The You Tube man” also failed to conjure victory as he bowed to Olympic champion, Kershown Walcott, from Bahamas while double Olympic and world champion Mo Farah, teared apart a rich 5000m field to answer critics in style.

In a clear warning ahead of the World Championships due next month, Nyambura once again saved the night for Kenya just as she did in Doha in May, when she chalked a meet record time of 9:16.99, beating 2014 Continental Cup silver medallist Hiwot Ayalew from Ethiopia.

It was Nyambura’s third win in the Diamond League this season after winning in Doha in 9:21.51 before timing 9:24.01 in Birmingham on June 7.

The victory saw her atone for having missed the New York race on June 13 over some visa hitch to stretch her Series lead. Ayalew cashed on Nyambura’s absence to win in New York in 9:25.26.

PACESETTER TURNED WINNER

Nyambura was barely a pacesetter going into Doha but would turn on the tables in the Middle East city when she went on to win the race and shrug off the tag.

In a repeat of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Amos proved supreme to once again stun Rudisha, the Olympic and world record-holder, in a world lead time of 1:43.27.

(READ: Gatlin shoots Bolt a warning in Lausanne)

Perhaps Rudisha will have to work on his final 80m as Amos glided past him at the home straight to win.

Rudisha came in second in 1:43.76 with Kenyan champion Ferguson Rotich taking third place 1:44.44 followed by World Junior champion Alfred Kipketer in 1:45.14.

Farah kicked sprang to life on the final lap from 80m out to beat a high-quality field featuring five of the top six in the world rankings this year.

Farah, who is also the current Olympic and world 10,000m champion, clocked a meeting record of 13min 11.77sec, with Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha (13:12.59) in second and 2008 Olympic bronze medallist, Kenya’s Edwin Soi, third in 13:17.17.

"This is what I work for, the crowd was great," beamed Farah after his first outing over 5,000m this season and his first race in six weeks after he pulled out of the Birmingham Diamond League meet in early June to return to his US training base to confront Albert Salazar over doping allegations.

(READ: Farah missed drug tests ahead of 2012 Olympics)

Claims made by BBC Panorama and US investigative website ProPublica alleged that Salazar violated several anti-doping rules, which the Cuban-born American distance running coach has thoroughly refuted.

Farah took the lead with three laps to go, looking very comfortable as a peloton of six broke clear.

The Somali-born Briton hugged the inside line as the bell sounded, but Kejelcha broke with 300m to go. But it was not to last.

Farah kicked back and purred past Kejelcha from 80m out, waving exultantly at the crowd in what was an emotional finish, before doing his trademark 'Mobot.’

In javelin, Walcott unleashed 90.16m in his first throw as the rest chased in vain. Yego’s throw of 85.50 placed him fourth.

Commonwealth 1,500m champion, Faith Chepng’etich Kipyegon was beaten in the metric mile race Swiss, Sifan Hassan, who clocked 4:02.36.

American Jennifer Simpson (:4:03.54) overtook the fading Commonwealth 5000m title holder Mercy Cherono (4:04.24) to nick bronze ahead of the Kenyan who finished fourth.