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Diamond Race Review 2015 - Long and Middle Distance
08 October, 2015

Diamond Race Review 2015 - Long and Middle Distance

In our Diamond Race review series, you can relive all the action from a thrilling IAAF Diamond League season. Throughout October, we're bringing you regular recaps of the Diamond Race actions in all of the 16 disciplines. Next up, it's the long and middle distance races.

800m

There has been no getting past Eunice Jepkoech Sum in the women's 800m in recent years. The Kenyan won the Diamond Race in both 2013 and 2014, and continued her dominance this season. Winning in Shanghai and Eugene, Sum had raced away from the rest of the pack before the season had really got under way. She was imperious for the rest of the year, too, winning three more Diamond Race events to claim a third consecutive Diamond Trophy.

In the men's 800m, the stage was set for an epic three way battle between Nijel Amos, David Rudisha and Mohammad Aman. Amos was the reigning champion from 2014, having usurped Aman, who in turn had usurped Rudisha two years previously. It was Amos who triumphed again in 2015, taking victories in Birmingham and Lausanne to stay well clear of both Rudisha and Aman throughout the year.

 

1500m

The highlight of the women's 1500m this year was Genzebe Dibaba's world record in Monaco. In the Diamond Race, however, it was the Netherlands' Sifan Hassan who lit up the world. Hassan finished in the top two in every meeting but one, maintaining a healthy lead in the Diamond Race throughout the season. Despite only two victories (in Birmingham and Lausanne),, her consistent podium finishes saw her crowned with a well deserved Diamond Trophy.

The men's 1500m, meanwhile, went down to the wire. Silas Kiplagat took an early lead with victory in Shanghai, before Ayanleh Souleiman caught up with him, winning in Eugene. It wasn't until Oslo that the favourite, Kenya's Asbel Kiprop stormed into the running with his Dream Mile win at the Bislett Games. The three then took one victory each from the next three meetings, meaning there were only two points between them ahead of the final in Zürich. It was Kiprop who prevailed, with a characteristic late surge both on the track and in the Diamond Race.

 

3000m Steeplechase

Jairus Birech won his first Diamond Trophy in 2014, and he was out to defend the title this year. With victories in Shanghai and Oslo and a second place finish in Eugene, Birech got himself an early lead in the Diamond Race, with 2013 winner Conseslus Kipruto the only man anywhere near his heels. In Paris, Birech had a stroke of luck, Evan Jager's infamous fall on the final straight meaning he took a third victory and put a second Diamond Trophy beyond reasonable doubt. Sure enough, the Kenyan finished second in Zürich, more than enough to see him crowned Diamond Race champion.

Virginia Nyambura shocked the world at the season opener in Doha when she stormed to an unlikely victory as pacemaker in the steeplechase. She followed the shock up with a second place finish in Rome and two more victories in Birmingham and Lausanne. After finishing only third in Monaco, Nyambura put in a disappointing performance at the final in Brussels, nearly surrendering what had been a six point lead in one blow. Habiba Ghribi's African record saved Nyambura though, as the Tunisian beat Hyvin Kiyeng over the line to make sure Nyambura claimed the Diamond Trophy by just two points. An astonishing achievement for a rank outsider.

 

5000m

After Almaz Ayana stunned the world with an astonishing opening victory in Shanghai, the women's 5000m Diamond Race looked like it might be one of the most exciting events of the year. Favourite Genzebe Dibaba soon quashed the uprising, though, winning the next three meetings to gain a huge lead. Ayana had looked like she might shock Dibaba in Paris, but the elder of the two Ethiopians was stronger in the final lap. Ayana did beat Dibaba in the final in Zürich, but it wasn't quite enough, and Dibaba claimed the Diamond Trophy by just two points. The rivalry may be one to savour in future years.

The men's 5000m, meanwhile, proved to be one of the most bizarre Diamond Races of all time. After the first six meetings were won by six different runners, the situation arose that in theory any athlete competing in the final was able to win the Diamond Race. Of the six who had already won, meanwhile, only Mo Farah was absent in Brussels, meaning there were five athletes with a very high chance of winning the Diamond Trophy. In the end it was Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha who prevailed. 

 

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