Yomi Omogbeja
Kenya’s Commonwealth 5000m champion Mercy Cherono set a new Diamond League record and world-lead time of 9:11.49 to win the women’s two miles at the Sainsbury’s Birmingham Grand Prix on Sunday.
Cherono’s compatriots Viola Kibiwot was second in 9:12.59 and Irene Jelagat came third in 9:12.90. Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba ran 9:14.28 for fourth.
Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop won the men’s Emsley Carr Mile in a meeting record time of 3:51.89 in Birmingham, breaking Steve Cram’s stadium record for the event in the process.
African 1500m champion Ayanleh Souleiman was second in 3:52.07 and Vincent Kibet of Kenya was third in 3:52.15.
Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop wins the men’s Emsley Carr Mile in a meeting record time 3:51.89 at Birmingham Grand Prix 2014 / Photo credit: Jean-Pierre Durand/ IDL
Kenya’s Jairus Kipchoge Birech ran a meeting record in the men’s 3000m steeplechase after surviving a late scare to keep his Diamond League lead intact.
Birech pulled away from the field and held a comfortable lead going into the last lap. However, the Kenyan misjudged his final jump, stopped and eventually had to climb over the barrier before finishing in a time of 8:07.80.
Almost a disaster for #Kenya‘s Jairus Birech, but he got there in the end with a Meeting Record 8:07.80 #BirminghamGP pic.twitter.com/HIbUgyNCFk
— Athletics Africa (@athleticsafrica) August 24, 2014
Kenya’s world 800m record-holder David Rudisha ran the fourth quickest time in history to win the men’s 600m race in 1:13.71, almost a second shy of Johnny Gray’s 1:12.81 world record for the rarely-run event.
American Christian Taylor snatched the men’s long jump win from Commonwealth silver medallist Zarck Visser of South Africa by just 1cm – 8.09m to 8.08m, with China’s Jinzhe Li finishing in third place.
