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Diamond League: Beatrice Chebet wins in style as Komen triumphs on debut
Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 10.05.24. | 20:17
Chebet now holds the world lead in the 5000m in her first track race this season
Commonwealth Games champion Beatrice Chebet produced a magnificent finish as she emerged the winner of the women’s 5000m at the Doha Diamond League meeting on Friday evening.
The 24-year-old, who was making her track debut this season, caught Ethiopian youngster Ejgayehu Taye by surprise on the final lap, making a move on the outside to sprint to the finish in a world-leading time of 14:26.98.
Taye came in second in a season-best 14:29.26, with Eisa Medina (Ethiopia) clocking 14:34.11 in third.
World Cross Country Championships winner Chebet looked to be in control of the race in the opening phases as she followed the makeshift Kenyan pacemaker for the opening five laps.
With the pacemaker off, Taye then took to the front, with a pack of eight in tow.
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The pack dropped to five with four laps to go as Taye laid down the hammer, and soon enough, Gela Hambese was the latest casualty as the eventual front three came to under two laps.
An acceleration by Taye just before the bell then left Medina behind as Chebet hung close to set up an exhilarating finish.
Chebet after the first 200m attempted a move down the inside that was rebuffed, forcing her to take the outer lane.
The Diamond League then produced a forceful kick in front of the Kenyan support to take the win that could pave the way for a remarkable season over the distance.
... and the @dldoha crowd goes wild! 🇰🇪
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) May 10, 2024
An impressive last lap kick earns Beatrice Chebet the victory and a 5000m world lead!#DiamondLeague
📷Marise Nassour pic.twitter.com/Ojsq1InArI
Meanwhile in the men's 1500m, Kenyan Brian Komen stunned former World Champion Timothy Cheruiyot to win his first Diamond League race in a time of 3:32.43.
The African Games champion surged late in the final 100m to grit it past the then leader Cheruiyot, who came a decent second clocking a season best time of 3:32.67.
World U20 champion Reynold Kipkorir was third in 3:32.96, completing a 1-2-3 podium sweep for Kenya.
Abel Kipsang could only finish thirteenth, also in a season best time of 3:35.67.
The win for Komen extends his brilliant start to the season, as he also ran 3:32.29 in a second-place finish at the Kip Keino Classic.
There was disappointment for Kenya in the men's 3000m steeplechase as Commonwealth Games champion Abraham Kibiwott was pipped by Ethiopian Samuel Firewu to finish second in a season best time of 8:07.38.
Samuel Firewu 🇪🇹 took the win in the final race at the Doha Diamond League, running a PB & World Lead of 8:07.25 to take the men’s 3000mSc.
— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) May 10, 2024
He beat Abraham Kibiwott 🇰🇪 just as they reached the finish, the Kenyan placing 2nd in 8:07.38, while Getnet Wale 🇪🇹 was 3rd in 8:09.69. pic.twitter.com/GNfDoCroZA
Race winner Firewu came home in a world leading 8:07.25 with Getnet Wale of Ethiopia finishing third in a season best 8:09.69.
Kenyan Amos Serem was fourth in a season best time of 8:12.74 with Benjamin Kigen finishing eleventh in 8:22.26.
