Kiyeng beats Chepkoech in Stockholm

In a span of 16 days, 2015 World 3000m steeplechase champion Hyvin Kiyeng has gotten the better of world record holder over the distance Beatrice Chepkoech setting the stage for an interesting race at the Olympics Games. 

Kiyeng dominated the women's race in Stockholm Diamond League (DL) winning in a time of 9:04.34, a meeting record (MR)and her season-best (SB) ahead of her Chepkoech who could only finish third in 9:10.52, a SB. Germany's Gesa Felicitas Krause was second in 9:09.13 which was a SB too. 

Kiyeng’s win comes 16 days after she clocked 9:24.5 to beat Chepkoech who timed 9:25.0 at the Athletics Kenya (AK) Olympics trials held on June 17 to 19. Purity Kirui was third in 9:25.6 in the exciting race at the trials. Kirui ran a PB, clocking 9:16.91 in Stockholm. Kiyeng’s explosive speed saw her push six women to their SB’s, with two recording their PB’s.  

 "I feel good and to get through such a race is good on the way to the Olympics," Kiyeng said after her win. 

Kiyeng lost gold at the Rio Olympics to Bahrain’s Ruth Jebet who would later was banned for using EPO. Since the women’s 3,000m steeplechase was introduced at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, no Kenyan has won gold save for the Kenyan-born Jebet. 

“I won silver in the last edition and with this year’s ticket, I will try and do something special. 2016 was my first time competing at that level. I feel I am more prepared now to return to the Olympic stage. Being the only medal missing in my cabinet, I am going to work for it and hopefully, I will get it,” said Kiyeng after the Olympics trials. 

Meanwhile, 800m specialist Ferguson Rotich produced a season’s best performance in the 800 meters, coming from behind to win in 1:43:84 at the same meeting on Sunday. Canada's Marco Arop was second in 1:44:00 and Elliot Giles of Britain third in 1:44:05. 

In 1500m, world champion Timothy Cheruiyot, in his first race since failing to qualify for Tokyo won comfortably in a time of 3:32.30 ahead of Ignacio Fontes who came home in 3:33.27 for a personal best while Ronald Kwemoi finished third in 3:33.53, a SB too.