Kipyegon, Chespol face Ugandan opposition in Hengelo

Two-time 1500m Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon will, on Monday 6 June, be in action at the FBK Games Hengelo 2022, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Level meeting in the Netherlands.

Following her commanding 3:54.21 win in Eugene, Kipyegon steps down from the 1500m to face world champion Halima Nakaayi of Uganda over 800m. Cuba’s Rose Mary Almanza is quickest in the field, courtesy of her 1:56.28 victory on the Diamond League action in Stockholm eleven months ago.

The Kenyan golden girl clinched her first win of the season after running a commanding meeting record and world leading time of 3:52.59 in 1500m at the Eugene Leg of the Diamond League, the Prefontaine Classic setting the ninth fastest time in the distance.

Before then, Kipyegon had finished second in her season opener in Doha in the 3,000m behind Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba. She heads to the race with a 1:57.68 personal best time in the distance set in 2020 as she won the 2020 Doha Diamond League leg which was the world leading time then.

The Kenyan faces off with the 2019 World Champion in the distance, Naakayi who holds a 1:58.03 Pb but has not been in her best form, having clocked 2:00.93 in Nairobi at the Kip Keino Classic for fifth place.

“This year started well for me, earning a medal at the Indoor World Championships. My focus now is on the World Championships in Eugene. Hengelo is the perfect meet within my preparation. I am looking forward to being back in Hengelo,” Naakayi said in an interview ahead of the race.

Another Ugandan Olympic steeplechase champion Peruth Chemutai takes on Commonwealth silver medalist Celliphine Chespol. Chemutai has not won a 3000m steeplechase since her Olympic triumph in Tokyo. She placed seventh in Eugene and Zurich at the tail-end of last season and third at the Kip Keino Classic and fourth back in Eugene this May.

Chespol has her work cut out as her last meeting with Chemutai in Nairobi saw her finish eighth in 9:38.02. Rosefline Chepngetich who did not finish her race at the Classic and Purity Kirui will also be in action.

Meanwhile, the women’s 10,000m, which doubles as the Ethiopian trial for Oregon, features three of the top six women on the world all-time list. Letesenbet Gidey and Almaz Ayana lead the field that has two Kenyans in Eva Cherono and Margret Chelimo.