RABAT, MOROCCO, May 25 — Already a double Olympic gold medalist and a world champion on the track and in cross country, Beatrice Chebet bolstered her résumé with a stunning run over 3000 meters at the Meeting International Mohammed VI de Rabat, the fourth stop on the Diamond League circuit.
The Kenyan clocked 8:11.56, the second-fastest ever behind the 8:06.11 by Junxia Wang at the 1993 Chinese National Games (T&FN thinks the marks made in that meet were flawed and believes the “real” fastest prior to Chebet’s run here was Genzebe Dibaba’s 8:16.60i on February 06, 2014, in Stockholm).
“I was not preparing a World Record attempt. I just came to run my personal best and that’s what I did,” Chebet, who won the Olympic 5000 and 10,000 last summer in Paris, told meet organizers. “I just have to believe in myself and then maybe after some months or years, that World Record will come. It is just a matter of time and I don’t want to rush things.”
The Kenyan ran the second half of the race in Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium solo, increasing her lead from 50 meters at halfway to nearly double that by the time she crossed the finish line. “After a few laps I realized I was on my own, but I kept pushing myself to show everyone what I can do,” she said. Looking comfortable the entire way, she covered the last lap in a brisk 61.96. Far behind her, Olympic 10,000 silver medalist Nadia Battocletti set and Italian record of 8:26.27 to finish 2nd.
Dutch star Femke Bol opened her outdoor season with a smooth 52.46 win in the 400 hurdles, nearly a second-and-a-half ahead of Andrenette Knight (53.90).
“In the end it doesn’t really matter the time you have on the first one, it’s more about [how] the execution is going, but it’s great to start with 52.4,” said the ’23 world champion and ‘24 Olympic bronze medalist, who has changed her start this year in order to switch her lead leg rotation to optimize her rhythm late in the race. “When I think back to 2019, 2020 when I started hurdling, my right leg was a disaster… but really it feels comfortable now.”
Celera Barnes started best in the 100, but Shericka Jackson steadily moved up through the field and took the lead at 60 meters to win in 11.04 (wind: 0.2) over Maia McCoy (11.08), Jacious Sears (11.11) and Barnes (11.16).
“It was my first 100m since the Jamaican Trials last year June and I am happy with the result,” said Jackson, who looked much improved from her runner-up showing in the 200 at the Xiamen Diamond League a month earlier. “I am healthy and that’s the most important thing,” Jackson said. “I did a lot of stuff good, but there are a lot of things that I can improve. But it was a good race so I leave this competition with only happy feelings.”
Olympic silver medalist Tsige Duguma won a tight 800 duel with world indoor champion Prudence Sekgodiso, 1:57.42 to 1:57.52, with Addy Wiley a close 3rd in 1:57.55.
Katie Moon went over 15-6¼ (4.73) on her third try to clinch the pole vault over Tina Šutej, who had been leading through the previous height, 15-2¼ (4.63), but could go no higher.
Elína Tzénggo collected her third Diamond League javelin win of the young season, following up her victories in China (one of which was a non-DL event) with a 211-11 (64.60) in the third round. That put her comfortably ahead of Adriana Vilagoš (207-6/63.25).
Prior to the Diamond League window, Nelly Chepchirchir won the 1500 in 3:58.04, just ahead of Worknesh Mesele (3:58.44), and Tobi Amusan took the 100 hurdles in 12.45.
RABAT DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(0.2): 1. Shericka Jackson (Jam) 11.04; 2. Maia McCoy (Lbr) 11.08; 3. Jacious Sears (US) 11.11; 4. Celera Barnes (US) 11.16; 5. Zoe Hobbs (NZ) 11.16; 6. Cambrea Sturgis (US) 11.27; 7. Rani Rosius (Bel) 11.29; 8. Deajah Stevens (US) 11.31.
800: 1. Tsige Duguma (Eth) 1:57.42; 2. Prudence Sekgodiso (SA) 1:57.52; 3. Addy Wiley (US) 1:57.55 (AL); 4. Anais Bourgoin (Fra) 1:57.81 PR; 5. Shafiqua Maloney (BVI) 1:58.00; 6. Assia Raziki (Mor) 1:58.49 PR; 7. Halimah Nakaayi (Uga) 1:58.58; 8. Eloisa Coiro (Ita) 1:58.64 PR; 9. Audrey Werro (Swi) 1:58.97; 10. Natoya Goule-Toppin (Jam) 1:59.92; 11. Soukaina Hajji (Mor) 2:00.07 PR; 12. Noélie Yarigo (Ben) 2:04.43;… rabbit—Margarita Koczanowa (Pol) (56.44).
1500: 1. Nelly Chepchirchir (Ken) 3:58.04 (out WL) (3:12.76);
2. Worknesh Mesele (Eth) 3:58.44; 3. Dorcus Ewoi (Ken) 3:59.25 PR; 4. Saron Berhe (Eth) 3:59.93; 5. Axumawit Embaye (Eth) 4:01.46; 6. Netsanet Desta (Eth) 4:02.25; 7. Sarah Billings (Aus) 4:02.93; 8. Lucia Stafford (Can) 4:03.54; 9. Nelly Jepkosgei (Bhr) 4:04.01; 10. Agueda Marques (Spa) 4:04.35; 11. Bérénice Cleyet-Merle (Fra) 4:04.87; 12. Hawi Abera (Eth) 4:04.92 PR;… rabbit—Esther Guerrero (Spa) (63.14, 63.66 [2:06.80]).
3000: 1. Beatrice Chebet (Ken) 8:11.56 NR (WL) (5:30.51) (inferior to official WR 8:06.11, but superior to T&FN’s WR 8:16.60i Genzebe Dibaba [Eth] ’14);
2. Nadia Battocletti (Ita) 8:26.27 NR; 3. Sarah Healy (Ire) 8:27.02 PR; 4. Ejgayehu Taye (Eth) 8:29.55; 5. Yenenesh Shmekt (Eth) 8:32.01 PR; 6. Marta Alemayo (Eth) 8:32.20 WU18B; 7. Aleshign Baweke (Eth) 8:32.88 PR; 8. Maureen Koster (Neth) 8:34.98; 9. Diane van Es (Neth) 8:38.12 PR; 10. Janeth Chepngetich (Ken) 8:38.83;… rabbit—Winnie Nanyondo (Uga) (2:44.47).
100H(1.2): 1. Tobi Amusan (Ngr) 12.45; 2. Nadine Visser (Neth) 12.67; 3. Pia Skrzyszowska (Pol) 12.69; 4. Ditaji Kambundji (Swi) 12.71; 5. Giada Carmassi (Ita) 12.81 PR; 6. Elena Carraro (Ita) 12.89; 7. Destiny Huven (US) 12.93.
400H: 1. Femke Bol (Neth) 52.46; 2. Andrenette Knight (Jam) 53.90; 3. Ayomide Folorunso (Ita) 54.74; 4. Rushell Clayton (Jam) 54.83; 5. Zeney Geldenhuys (SA) 55.37; 6. Fatoumata Diallo (Por) 55.54; 7. Naomi Van Den Broeck (Bel) 55.69; 8. Cassandra Tate (US) 56.06.
Field Events
PV: 1. Katie Moon (US) 15-6¼ (4.73); 2. Tina Šutej (Slo) 15-2¼ (4.63); 3. Gabriela Leon (US) 15-2¼ PR; 4. Imogen Ayris (NZ) 14-9 (4.50); 5. tie, Roberta Bruni (Ita) & Angelica Moser (Swi) 14-9; 7. Emily Grove (US) 14-9; 8. Marie-Julie Bonnin (Fra) 14-3¼ (4.35); 9. Olivia McTaggart (NZ) 14-3¼; 10. Alysha Newman (Can) 13-9¼ (4.20).
JT: 1. Elína Tzénggo (Gre) 211-11 (64.60); 2. Adriana Vilagoš (Ser) 207-6 (63.25); 3. Anete Sietiņa (Lat) 197-5 (60.19); 4. Flor Dennis Ruiz (Col) 195-9 (59.67); 5. Jo-Ané Van Dyk (SA) 194-4 (59.25); 6. Maria Andrejczyk (Pol) 187-10 (57.26); 7. Mackenzie Little (Aus) 186-8 (56.90).
