Cheruiyot leads Kenyan charge in Stockholm Diamond League

Kenya's Timothy Cheruiyot celebrates after winning the men's 1500 metres event during the Diamond League Athletics Meeting at The Louis II Stadium in Monaco on August 14, 2020.


Photo credit: Matthias Hangst | AFP

What you need to know:

  • World 800m bronze medallist Ferguson Rotich hopes to end a long dry spell in men’s 800m race where he will be coming up against world 800m champion Donavan Brazier
  • It’s now time for Chebet, who paced during the 5,000m race in Monaco, to go for glory in women’s 1,500m that also has the World 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri, who is fresh from winning the 5,000m race in Monaco
  • World 1,500m champion Faith Chepng'etich, who won the 1,000m in Monaco in a Diamond League and an area record time of 2:29.15, has skipped the Stockholm race


World 1,500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot will be going for a double as Continental 1,500m champion Winny Cbebet eyes her maiden victory when Stockholm’s leg of the Diamond League goes down on Sunday.

World 800m bronze medallist Ferguson Rotich hopes to end a long dry spell in men’s 800m race where he will be coming up against world 800m champion Donavan Brazier, winner in Diamond League opening leg of Monaco on August 14.

Cheruiyot opened his season strongly with victory in a world lead of 3:28.45, beating European champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen from Norway to second place but in area record and personal best time of 3:28.68.

The two clash once again with Jakob hoping to turn the tables on the Kenyan in the race that has attracted, Polish Marcin Lewandowski, the World 1,500m bronze medallist and Yomif Kejelcha from Ethiopia.

Second-placed Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen reacts at the end of the men's 1500 metres event during the Diamond League Athletics Meeting at The Louis II Stadium in Monaco on August 14, 2020.


Photo credit: Matthias Hangst | AFP

It’s now time for Chebet, who paced during the 5,000m race in Monaco, to go for glory in women’s 1,500m that also has the World 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri, who is fresh from winning the 5,000m race in Monaco.

Kenya's Hellen Obiri celebrates after winning the women's 5,000 metres event during the Diamond League Athletics Meeting at The Louis II Stadium in Monaco on August 14, 2020.

Photo credit: Guillaume Horcajuelo | AFP

Obiri is a bronze medallist in 1,500m from the 2013 Moscow World Championship.

World Indoor 1,5000m silver medallist Laura Muir from Britain, Australian Jessica Hull and World 1,500m bronze medallist Shannon Rowbury are in the 1,500m mix.

World 1,500m champion Faith Chepng'etich, who won the 1,000m in Monaco in a Diamond League and an area record time of 2:29.15, has skipped the Stockholm race.

"I had not planned for Stockholm but Monaco was a good outing. I will know in the coming days my next stop," said Chepng'etich. 

Kenya's Faith Kipyegon celebrates after winning the women's 1000 metres event during the Diamond League Athletics Meeting at The Louis II Stadium in Monaco on August 14, 2020.

Photo credit: Valery Hache | AFP

Rotich seeks to redeem his image after finishing sixth in season best 1:45.48 in Monaco where the world champion Donavan Brazier from USA called the shots in a world lead of 1:43.15. Others in the race are World 800m silver medallist Amel Tuka.

“Everyone is doing great, we have just checked into Clarion Hotel,” said coach Ben Ouma, who is accompanying the athletes. “Everyone went through Covid-19 test and the results are due tomorrow.”

Ouma, however, noted that life seems back to normal in Stockholm with learning institutions open.

"You will hardly get anyone wearing a face mask on the streets. I understand those who have them are those with the disease perhaps,” explained Ouma. “The Covid-19 samples collection is done personally under the instructions of a medical officer. It’s simple and not scary.”