Boris Hanzekovic Memorial: Chepchirchir, Bett set meeting records as Omanyala is pipped on the line

It was an eventful night for Kenyan athletes at the Boris Hanzekovic Memorial in Zagreb on Sunday, as Nelly Chepchirchir and Leonard Kipkemoi Bett set new meeting records, while sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala finished second in a tightly-contested 100m final.

Competing for the second year running at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event, Omanyala was no match for eventual winner Courtney Lindsey, who was the only athlete to dip under 10 seconds.

The American, who earlier this season took the 200m win at the Kip Keino Classic, was quick out of the blocks, and fended off a lurking Omanyala to clock a season’s best of 9.97.

Omayala, who on the other hand was seeking to defend his title, was just 0.05 seconds back, finishing second in 10.02.

Britain’s Romell Glave, who won an earlier race in 10.13 (-0.6m/s), was third this time in 10.11.

Chepchirchir continues steady rise

Elsewhere in the women’s 800m, Kenya’s Chepchirchir kicked to a meeting record after running a personal best time of 1:57.00 to hold off Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin.

Goule-Toppin had been to the fore as the pacemaker stepped aside at 400m, but Chepchirchir strode ahead on the final bend to assert her dominance on the field, and keep up her impressive showing this year.

Just two weeks ago, the 21-year-old set a meet record at the women’s 1000m race at the Silesia Diamond League, and set her initial 800m personal best at the 2024 Continental Tour Rovereto on 31 August.

On Sunday, Goule-Toppin came second in 1:57.43, while Ethiopia’s Nigist Getachew was third in a PB of 1:57.47.

Silesia DL:Chepchirchir clocks world leading time in 1000m

Bett smashes steeplechase meet record

In the men’s 3000m steeplechase, Kenya’s Bett couldn’t hide his delight after breaking the meet record in a personal best time of 8:06.33.

The 23-year-old, who finished fourth at the World Championships last year, hadn’t raced since July, as he continues his return after injury, but he made a comeback in style.

Heading into the final lap, Bett accelerated to the front, leaving his opponents in his wake, and deservedly became the sixth fastest men’s 3000m steeplechaser this year.

Olympic finalists Ahmed Jaziri of Tunisia and Morocco’s Mohamed Tindouft, followed him in second and third place timing 8:08:11 and 8:11.56 respectively.