The 2024 Diamond League season kicked off in the Chinese city of Xianem on Saturday with the continent of Africa well represented in the global competition.
World record holder Tobi Amusan was among the line-up of African stars in China while Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay and Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech set new world leading time in their respective events.
Tobi Amusan:
The Nigerian sprinter finished fifth in the women’s 100m hurdles with a time of 12.58 seconds, behind Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn who led the race in 12.45 seconds.
Gudaf Tsegay:
The Ethiopian had a remarkable outing on Saturday as she set a new personal best, a new meeting record and a new world leading time of 3 minutes, 50.30 seconds to win the women’s 1500 metres.
Ethiopian athletes dominated the race as Birke Haylom, Worknesh Mesele, Diribe Welteji, Freweyni Hailu complete the top-five ranking.
Beatrice Chepkoech:
The Kenyan middle-distance runner finished the women’s 3000 meteres steeplechase in a world leading time of 8 minutes, 55.40 seconds.
Behind Chepkoech was another Kenyan, Faith Cherotich who settled for second place in 9:05.49 while Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai came third.
Wyclife Kinyamal:
Kenya’s Kinyamal narrowly missed out on the first-place in the men’s 800m by 5 micro seconds. Canada’s Marco Arop crossed the finish line first in 1:43.61 to set a new world leading time.
Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela followed closely in third position and set a new personal best of 1:43.88.
Lamecha Girma:
Ethiopia’s Girma led the pack in the men’s 5000 metres with a time of 12:58.96 while Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir came second in 12:59.78.
Hughes Fabrice Zango:
The Burkin Faso star made a great start to the Diamond League season but could settle for second position in the men’s triple jump.
Zango made a leap of 17.12 metres in Xianem but it was far from Pedro Pichardo’s record attempt of 17.51 metres.
The 2024 Diamond League continue in China with a stop in Shanghai on April 27.
