Kenyans Chepseba and Longosiwa storm to world leads in Dusseldorf

Start of the men's 5000m in Düsseldorf 2012 / Photo: Organisers

Kenyan Thomas Longosiwa produced a stunning last lap sprint to set a world leading 12:58.67, Compatriot Nixon Chepseba produced a 3:35.53 world lead and Ghana's Ignisious Gaisah scored one over SA's Khotso Mokoena in Long Jump to highlight top African performances at the 7th International Athletics PSD Bank Meeting in Düsseldorf last night.

Longosiwa ran away from the leading group in the men's 5000m with two and a half laps to go to set a world season lead of 12:58.67, the first sub 13 minutes time this year.

Kenyan youngster Isiah Koech, who produced a World Junior Indoor 5000m record with 12:53.29 to win in Düsseldorf last year, had to settle for second place with 13:02.36, followed by countryman Paul Kipsiele Koech (13:02.69) and Ethiopian Yitaya Atnafu (13:04.18).

“I did not expect to win tonight, but you never know what will happen. When I looked at my opponents faces, I saw that they are a bit tired. So I was looking for my chance and took it,” said Longosiwa.

"I have not specifically prepared for this race, so the victory was somewhat surprising. The time under 13 minutes shows that I am in good shape. At the World Indoor Championships, I want to give a good performance."

Nixon Chepseba from Kenya took the 1500m with a world lead of 3:35.53 from Bethwel Birgen, also from Kenya (3:35.93) and Turkey's Ilham Tanui Özbilen (3:36.31).

“I had hoped for a slightly faster time, but at least I won again here in Düsseldorf. Next week I will try to improve in Lièvin,” said Chepseba.

Other highlights

In the 800m Adam Kszczot crossed the line in a world season lead of 1:45.44 minutes ahead of Boaz Lalang (Kenya) second in 1:47.06 and Ahmed Ismail (Sudan) third in 1:47.23.

Ghana's Ignisious Gaisah won the men's Long Jump with 7.98m on countback ahead of South African Godfrey Khotso mokoena (7.98m) with German Nils Winter, third with 7.86m.

Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba, the younger sister of the double Olympic Champion Tirunesh Dibaba, won the women's 1500m in 4:01.96, but was disqualified together with Kenyans Pamela Jelimo, who debuted in 1500m in Düsseldorf, and Helen Obiri.

The Ukrainian Anzhelika Shevchenko, who had finished with 4:07.55, was declared the winner after the three African women were adjudged to have cut inside too early at the end of the second bend.

Olympic champion Dayron Robles (Cuba) was beaten in the 60m Hurdles by American Kevin Craddock who held on to win in 7.53 secs from Robles (7.55 secs).  America Jeff Porter was third in 7.62 secs.

Selected Results
Men
60m
1 VICAUT, Jimmy FRA 6.53 WL
2 NORMAN, Joshua USA 6.63 
3 WILKS, Terrell USA 6.65 
4 BLUM, Christian GER 6.66 
5 REUS, Julian GER 6.66 
6 EMELIEZE, Peter NGR 6.69 
7 OGHO-OGHENE, Egwero NGR 6.69 
8 COLLINS, Kim SKN 6.91 
 
800m
1 KSZCZOT, Adam POL 1:45.44 WL
2 LALANG, Boaz KEN 1:47.06 
3 ISMAIL, Ahmed Ismael SUD 1:47.23 
4 KIVUVA, Jackson Mumbwa KEN 1:47.26 
5 KIPLAGAT, Richard KEN 1:48.17 
6 MUTUA, David KEN 1:50.38 
 
1500m
1 CHEPSEBA, Nixon KEN 3:35.53 WL
2 BIRGEN, Bethwel KEN 3:35.93 
3 ÖZBILEN, Ilham Tanui TUR 3:36.31 
4 AL GARNI, Mohamed QAT 3:36.88 
5 WOLDE, Dawit ETH 3:37.95 
6 GEBREMEHDIN, Mekonnen ETH 3:38.81 
7 BEUGNET, Gregory FRA 3:39.06 
8 CHEBOI, Collins KEN 3:42.37 
9 NDIWA, Cornelius KEN 3:43.76 
10 KIPRUTO, Brimin KEN 3:51.96 
 
5000m
1 LONGOSIWA, Thomas KEN 12:58.67 WL
2 KOECH, Isiah Kiplangat KEN 13:02.36 
3 KOECH, Paul Kipsiele KEN 13:02.69 
4 ATNAFU, Yitaya ETH 13:04.18 
5 ROP, Albert KEN 13:10.96 
6 KORIR, Japhet KEN 13:11.44 
7 ARIKAN, Polat Kemboi TUR 13:12.55 
8 BETT, Josphat KEN 13:32.20 
9 WOLDEGIORGIS, Abayneh ETH 13:42.40 
10 NURME, Tiidrik EST 14:29.29
 
Long Jump
1 GAISAH, Ignisious GHA 7.98 
2 MOKOENA, Godfrey RSA 7.98 
3 WINTER, Nils GER 7.86 
4 JENSEN, Morten DEN 7.86 
5 BAYER, Sebastian GER 7.68 
6 MELIZ, Luis Felipe ESP 7.68 
7 KRAL, Mario GER 7.57 
8 KÖNIG, Oliver GER 7.54 
 
Women
60m
1 POVH, Olesya UKR 7.13 
2 BAILEY, Aleen JAM 7.27 
3 SCHIPPERS, Dafne NED 7.28 
4 MCGRONE, Candyce USA 7.37 
5 SAMUEL, Jamile NED 7.38 
6 ANIM, Vida GHA 7.39 
7 KWADWO, Yasmin GER 7.41 
8 MOLL, Carolyn GER 7.43 

 

See Complete Results

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