World champ Asbel Kiprop answers critics in Oslo

World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop has finally won a race in this year’s IAAF Diamond League Series.

Kiprop broke the duck this season with his fourth Dream Mile victory at the Oslo Diamond League as Jairus Birech claimed a double in men’s 3,000m steeplechase on Thursday night.

Commonwealth 1,500m champion Faith Chepng’etich, who is also a former World junior champion, made a return to her specialty with a second placing as Viola Kibiwott once again lost the women’s 5,000m battle to Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba.

Kiprop atoned for his defeat in 800m in Doha and Bowerman Mile at the Prefontaine Classic when he brought the 50th Anniversary running of the Exxon Mobil Bislett Games to a rousing conclusion.

Kiprop, the 2011 and 2013 World 1,500m champion eased home in 3:51.45, beating the Shanghai Diamond League 1,500m winner and compatriot Silas Kiplagat to second place in 3:51.72 as Belgian Pieter-Jan Hannes settled third in 3:51.84.

Ayanleh Souleiman (Djibouti), the winner in Doha and Prefontaine Classic, settled for a fourth place finish in 3:52.69 followed by World junior 1,500m record-holder Ronald Kwemoi (3:53.07), who is also the Commonwealth 1,500m silver medallist.

“It feels like home here,” said the 2008 Olympic champion, Kiprop. “It was my fourth time here and my fourth win, which is excellent for me.”

“I knew Souleiman asked for a very fast pace, but for the rest it was too fast and going into the last lap we were nearly all together.

“At that time I was thinking there is a good chance I can win again at Bislett.”

Souleiman went with the pacing pair and then attempted to put some distance between him and the rest of the field, getting 20 metres clear.

But by the bell, Kiplagat had towed the opposition back to his shoulder, and the Djiboutian athlete was eventually passed by three men in the final straight. He showed his frustration afterwards by punching his fist into the track before rising and putting his head in his hands.

BIRECH COMPLETES THE DOUBLE

The expected battle between Kenya’s old and new masters of the 3000m steeplechase, respectively Ezekiel Kemboi and Birech, who won in Shanghai, never came to pass.

Birech, the 2014 Series winner, ruled in 8:05.63, beating the 2013 World silver medallist Conseslus Kipruto to second in 8:11.92 as the 2010 and 2011 Series winner, Paul Kipsiele Koech came home third in 8:12.20.

Kemboi, the Olympic and World champion who won at Prefontaine Classic, clocked 8:30.07 to struggle home in a distant 10th place.

Chepng’etich, who is the national record-holder with best of 3:56.98, made wrong judgment to let Briton Laura Muir open the gap at the bell. Muir went on to win in 4:00.39 as Chepng’etich, settled for second in 4:00.94. Doha winner Ethiopian Dawit Seyaum (4:02.90) was third followed by Sweden’s world indoor and outdoor champion Abeba Aregawi.

Dibaba’s pursuit of the 5000m world record set by her sister Tirunesh Dibaba seven years ago fell short after she clocked 14:21.29, beating compatriot Senbere Teferi (14:38.57) and Kibiwott (14:40.43).