Double Olympic Champion Beatrice Chebet, blasted to a 2nd fastest time in 3000m at the Rabat Diamond League on Sunday at the Prince Moulay Sports Complex.
The 25-year-old sprung to the front at the 1800m mark, running the remaining three laps against time with a comfortable time to cross the finish line in 8 minutes 11.56 seconds, the 2nd fastest time in the 3k, a world-leading time, a meeting record and an area record time, just five seconds from the 1993 world record of 8:06.11 set by Wang Junxia of China.
It was her second victory of the new Diamond League season, after she opened her campaign with a world lead in the 5000m in Xiamen last month.
Nadia Batocletti from Italy finished 2nd in 8:26.56, with Sarah Healy from Ireland completing the podium places in 8:27.02.
Olympic Champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi could only manage a 3rd position in the 800m with an SB time of 1:43.47, behind Tshepiso Masalela of Botswana, who recorded his 2nd consecutive diamond race win in 1:42.70, and Max Jurgin of Britain, who finished 1st and 2nd, respectively.
Ferdinand Omanyala took 2nd position in the 100m, posting 10.05 seconds behind Akani Simbine, who won the race in 9.95 seconds, with American Fred Kerley coming home 3rd, 0.02 seconds behind the Kenyan.
Reynold Cheruiyot and Festus finished in 2nd and 3rd positions, respectively, in the 1500m in 3:31.78 and 3:32.06, respectively.
Kenyan-born American Jonah Koech emerged victorious in a meeting record time of 3:31.43 minutes.
Olympic Champion Soufiane El Bakkali set a world-leading time in the 3000 m steeplechase, in 8:00.70, sending the home crowd wild, with world under-20 champion Edmund Serem of Kenyan finishing 3rd in 8:07.47, a PB, behind Frederick Rupert of Germany, who finished 2nd in 8:01.49.
Dismas Otuke
