2021 World U20 3,000m steeplechase champion Amos Serem delivered a shocker at the Diamond League final on Friday, beating Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali in a thrilling race.
Serem clocked 8:06.90 to take home the Diamond League trophy, with El Bakkali settling for second in 8:08.60. Tunisia’s Mohamed Jhinaoui followed closely in 8:09.68 to complete the podium.
Olympic bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwot narrowly missed out on a top-three finish, crossing the line in 8:10.51 for fourth place.
Serem’s victory was a statement of intent, having pushed the Moroccan to the limit during their previous clash at the Silesia meet, where both clocked 8:04.29. El Bakkali was awarded the win after a photo finish.
Meanwhile, Olympic 800m bronze medallist Mary Moraa ended her season on a high with a Diamond League final victory.
Moraa recorded a season-best time of 1:56.56 to beat Britain's Georgia Bell (1:57.50) and Jamaica's Natoya Toppin (1:58.94).
In the men's 5,000m, Kenya's challenge fell short as Ethiopians swept the podium. Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Berihu Aregawi led the charge, clocking 12:43.66 followed closely by Hagos Gebrhiwet (12:44.25) and Telahun Bekele (12:45.63).
Nicholas Kipkorir placed fourth in 12:49.59 whereas Jacob Krop (13:02.35), Cornelius Kemboi (13:05.92) and Olympic 5,000m silver medallist Ronald Kwemoi (13:35.84) placed seventh, eighth and 10th respectively.
In the 1500m, 2021 Olympic silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot had to settle for second place as Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen took the crown, clocking 3:30.37.
Cheruiyot finished a close second in 3:30.93, while Olympic champion Cole Hocker of USA was third in 3:30.94.
Reynold Cheruiyot (3:32.50) and Brian Komen (3:33.21) finished seventh and ninth respectively.
