Kenyan athletes once again showed their class as they recorded impressive performances at the 2025 Rabat Diamond League on May 25, raking in handsome amounts of money. Ferdinand Omanyala and Beatrice Chebet put in good performances at the Rabat Diamond League. How Kenyan athletes performed in Rabat A couple of Kenyans, including double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet, headed to Morocco for the only Diamond League stop in Africa. Chebet ran the fastest women’s 3000m time in 32 years, becoming the second-fastest woman in history at the event. The 5000m and 10000m Olympic champion clocked a time of 8:11.56, which was only five seconds slower than the world record of Waang Junxia set in 1993.
In the men’s 100m, Ferdinand Omanyala finished an impressive second behind Akani Simbine. It was Omanyala’s second podium in the Diamond League after finishing second again in Xiamen at the start of the season. Men’s 800m Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi was third in his favourite event, much to the surprise of many. Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela was the star of the night, beating the Kenyan. Diamond League prize money Winners will earn up to 10,000 USD in the normal 14 races across the season and up to 30,000 USD in the final, as captured on the Diamond League’s website. There will also be a select number of Diamond+ Disciplines, in which athletes can earn higher prize money. Each Diamond League event will name its special disciplines in advance, where athletes will earn more money. Winners will get 20,000 USD in this category and 50,000 USD in the final.
In Rabat, the Diamond+ Disciplines of 100m women, 400m hurdles women, 200m men, and shot put men didn’t involve any Kenyan. How much Omanyala, Chebet and Wanyonyi won in Rabat Chebet earned 10,000 USD (approximately KSh 1.2 million) for coming in first, while Omanyala pocketed 6,000 USD (approximately KSh 772,000) for his second-place finish. Wanyonyi earned 4,000 USD (approximately KSh 542,000) for his third-place finish behind Masalela and Britain’s Max Burgin. Beatrice Chebet celebrates after winning the women’s 3000m at the Rabat Diamond League. Photo by Issam Zerrok. Source: Getty Images Other Kenyan athletes who won include Nelly Chepchirchir, won triumphed in the women’s 1500m therefore earning 10,000 USD. This was Chepchirchir’s second victory after winning in Doha. “I was excited to race again after my win in Doha.
I came prepared and I am happy that I could win once again and run a season best. For now, I have no idea where my next competition will be.” Edmund Serem was third in the men’s 3000m steeplechase in a race won by home hero Soufiane El Bakkali.”I am extremely happy to celebrate this victory in my country and in front of my fellow Moroccans. Their support today was outstanding. I want to thank them very much. Achieving the World Lead makes the moment even more special,” said a beaming El Bakkali after the race. What next in the Diamond League calendar? The lucrative Wanda Diamond League will take a break this weekend before it returns on June 6 in Rome, Italy, for the Golden Gala. Chebet and Fred Kerley are among the athletes scheduled to compete.
The next stop will be at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway, where 400m hurdles world record holder Karsten Warholm will be in action. Afterwards, the league will head to Sweden and then France. Faith Kipyegon will headline the next stop at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. Ferdinand Omanyala to headline Kipkeino Classic After Rabat, Omanyala will return home, where he will be the star attraction at the 2025 Kipkeino Classic. The World Athletics Continental Gold Tour event is where he set the fastest time in Africa four years ago, and he will be looking for another fast time. The event was moved from Nyayo Stadium to the Ulinzi Complex.
By Martin Moses
