Kipyegon and Chepkoech face Niyonsaba test in Doha Diamond League opener

Kenyan track stars Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon and steeplechase queen Beatrice Chepkoech will battle for Diamond League points with Burundian dynamo Francine Niyonsaba when they all line up in Doha, Qatar on Friday 13th May 2022 for the series opening leg.

Kipyegon, a 1500m specialist with multiple world titles will dabble into the women 3000m flat race while Chepkoech will be right at home over the distance minus the water and hurdles she is accustomed to in the steeplechase.

Niyonsaba is equally toiling to curve a niche in the race after being forced to quit her favored 800m owing to her hyper androgenic condition that is deemed to be giving her and her ilk undue advantage over normal female athletes.

The trio will no doubt headline the 17-woman race owing to their pedigrees elsewhere. Other Kenyans in the fray include budding Edinah Jebitok and Beatrice Chebet while Caroline Kipkirui will race in the colors of her acquired home Kazakhstan.

Former Kenyan Yesemin Can, now a Turkish national is among the podium favorites with industrious Ugandan Winnie Nanyondo and Ethiopian troupe of Taye Ejgayehu and Fentu Worku.

Niyonsaba has run the fastest time over the distance among the seventeen athletes on the start list. Her 8:19.08 is closely rivaled with Ejgayehu’s 8:19.52 while Chepkoech comes a distant 3rd on 8:22.92. Kipyegon is ranked 4th on 8:23.55.

In the men’s javelin, Kenya’s Julius Yego’s absence from the big time throws is very visible leaving the Germans, Czech Republic throwers to dominate. In Doha, Thoma Rohler of Germany is the top dog flaunting his mammoth 93. 90 Personal Best ahead of longtime rivals Jakub Vadlejch (89.73) and Vesely Vitezslav (89.32).

Other big throwers at the Khalifa International Stadium are Julian Weber (88.29), Anderson Peters (87.31) and Kim Amb of Sweden (86.49)