Wednesday, June 14th, 2023 11:42 | By
Beatrice Chebet during the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia. PHOTO/Olympics.com
As the Diamond League Games move to Oslo, Norway, on Thursday, June 15, 2023, the spotlight will be on Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet and Timothy Cheruiyot.
The last circuit produced a new world record holder in Faith Kipyegon, who registered 14:05.20 in the 5,000 metres race. A week earlier, Kipyegon had shattered the 1,500 metres race in Florence, Italy.
Motivated Chebet
Meanwhile, Chebet, the World Cross Country champion, will be among the top stars that will grace the event in Norway in the fifth Diamond League leg. She will be boosted by her World Cross Country success, as she is tipped to dominate the 3000 meter category.
Her morale is expected to be high following her 5000-meter win in the Kip Keino Classic that was held in Nairobi recently.
The 23-year-old also defeated Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia at the 2023 World Cross Championships in Bathurst, Australia, and this means she is going to the Oslo circuit in high spirits.
The spotlight will also be on women’s 3000m World Cross Country bronze medalist Agness Jebet and Lilian Kasait, a former World U18 3000m champion.
Cheruiyot faces stiff competition
Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who set a new two-mile world record with a time of 7:54.10 in Paris, is also a star that will be watched closely as he will be challenging Kenya’s Cheruiyot in the 1,5000 metres.
He shared the Paris Diamond League spotlight with track record breakers Faith Kipyegon and Lamecha Girma. While Kipyegon set a record in the 5000 metres race, Girma stole the show with the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase record.
Ingebrigtsen broke the Olympic record in 2020 when he beat Cheruiyot to win in 3:28:32. Cheruiyot was also defeated in the 2022 World Championship in Eugene by the Norwegian.
Ishmael Kipkirui and Cornelius Kipkorir will also be in action and are set to battle with Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo in the 5000 metres and Paul Chelimo of the USA.
Kiplimo is a half-marathon world record holder, while Chelimo is an Olympic silver medalist.
Karsten Warholm, a 400 metres hurdles world record holder, is set to make his outdoor debut. Warholm dealt with injuries in 2022, which meant he was sidelined for major competitions.
South Africa’s 400 metres world record holder Wayde van Niekerk will face Kirani James, Anthony Zambrano, and Zambian rising star Muzala Samukonga, four athletes that have dipped below 44 seconds.
The Oslo Diamond League have been scheduled to take place on Thursday at the famous Bislett Stadium in Oslo. The stadium has hosted the Bislett Games since 1965.
While Chebet and other Kenyan athletes hope to register stellar performances, they should be motivated by President Ruto’s recent pronouncement that the government will roll out a special package for its athletes.
Ruto’s commitment
Ruto also stated that the athletes who excel in their respective fields will be given diplomatic passports.
The president’s promise came after Kipyegon shattered world records in Paris and Florence, Italy, in the previous Diamond Circuits.
“This same recognition and reward system will be extended to future world record breakers and beaters after Faith, motivating our young men and women in their athletic pursuits,” the head of state said on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
Should the government implement what has been promised, this will inspire even the upcoming athletes.
Oslo Diamond League: Full Schedule
Men:
200m Men (2045)
400m Men (2015)
1500m Men (2150)
5000m Men (2105)
400m Hurdles Men (2140)
Pole Vault Men (1845)
Long Jump Men (2040)
Hammer Men (1840)
Women:
100m Women (2130)
Dream Mile Women (2050)
3000m Women (2025)
400m Hurdles Women (2000)
Triple Jump Women (1900)
Shot Put Women (1730)
Discus Throw Women (2120)