by Justin Lagat
Men’s 5000 meters, photo by PhotoRun.net
Justin Lagat wrote about the distance events at Lausanne DL. In this column, he writes about the 5,000m, 1,500m, and both 800 meters. The Lausanne Meeting had a WL at 1,500m and a very competitive 5000m, plus some confusion by a top athlete with the finish of the 5000m.
One of the biggest races of the night was the men’s 5000m, given the start list that had almost all the runners who had shown great form in distances ranging from the 3,000m to the 10,000m this season. There were 15 runners who had run under 13 minutes for the distance. There were also some perceived scores to be settled between Tilahun Bekele and Selemon Barega; Joshua Cheptegei and Barega; Yomif Kejelcha and Barega; Paul Chelimo and Cheptegei, among others.
Yomif Kejelcha takes the 5000m, photo by PhotoRun.net
However, Yomif Kejelcha who had not featured much in the most recent races was the man who won what is arguably the most anticipated race of the year.
The first 1000m was quite fast with the pace setter taking the field through it in 2:32.96. However, the pace was slowed down a little after the pacesetters stepped out after around the 3,000m mark, as though no one was willing to risk trying to break away from such a formidable field.
Hagos Gebrehewit, photo by Photorun.net
With 600m to go, Hagos Gebrhiwet broke away from the group in a devastating kick that left everyone confused. At the finish line, he searched for the flower girl to hand him the flowers but instead heard the bell ringing. Kejelcha who had reacted with him but appeared to have reserved some energy ran past the stunned Gebrhiwet and continued to maintain a good gap at the front as Barega tried to close it. In the end, the top two results were similar to those from the Shanghai diamond league race on 18th May. Kejelcha won the race in 13:00.56 with Barega coming second in 13:01.99. Telahun Bekele came in third position in 13:03.09.
Nelly Jepkosgei takes the 800m, photo by PhotoRun.net
In a non-diamond league women’s 800m race, Nelly Jepkosgei ran another one of her consistent 1:59.54 to win it. Halima Nakaayi was second in 1:59.97 ahead of Gabriela Gajanova in 2:01.25.
Timothy Cherruiyot takes WL in 1,500m, 3:28.77, photo by PhotoRun.net
The men’s 1500m race saw very fast times being recorded with Timothy Cheruiyot running a world leading time of 3:28.77 to win. But, more surprising was Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s personal best time of 3:30.16 that placed him in second position ahead of Ayanleh Souleiman who finished third in 3:30.79.
Wycliffe Kinyamal takes the 800m, photo by Photorun.net
The men’s 800m became a clean podium sweep by Kenyans when Wyclife Kinyamal remained a little bit patient this time round and pushed hard in the last 150m to overtake Emmanuel Korir in the last 50m to win it in 1:43.78. Ferguson Rotich also finished strongly to edge Korir just at the finish line in 1:43.93 against Korir’s 1:44.01.
