Men’s 3000m steeplechase – El Bakkali wins, Sable finishes fifth (qualifies for Diamond League finals)
Eyes on world champion El Bakkali and Kenya’s Kibiwot. After a disappointing performance at world championships, will India’s Avinash Sable be able to show his class today?
El Bakkali leads the pack after 400m with Sable in sixth place. The Indian is seventh with one-third of the race done.
Commonwealth champion Kibiwot has taken the lead from El Bakkali with 1600m mark reached. Sable still seventh. The Indian might need to make a move soon.
Two-third of the race done and world champion El Bakkali is back in the lead, Kibiwot second. No change in Sable’s position – seventh.
With 500m to go, El Bakkali continues to lead the pack but in second place is Ethiopia’s Firewu now. Kibiwot is third. Sable seventh.
El Bakkali wins the race with Firewu second. Amos Serem is third with his Kenyan teammate Kibiwot in fourth. Impressive performance from Sable to jump to fifth in the final lap.
Top Three:
Soufiane El Bakkali (Morocco) – 8:10.31s
Samuel Firewu (Ethiopia) – 8:11.29s
Amos Serem (Kenya) – 8:14.41s
Sable fifth with 8:16.27s. The Indian has qualified for the Diamond League Finals in Eugene.
Here are the top ten who will compete in Eugene on September 16-17:
Soufiane El Bakkali (Morocco)
Abraham Kibiwot (Kenya)
Abrham Sime (Ethiopia)
Getnet Wale (Ethiopia)
Samuel Firewu (Ethiopia)
Avinash Sable (India)
Leonard Kipkemoi Bett (Kenya)
Benjamin Kigen (Kenya)
Ryuji Miura (Japan)
Daniel Arce (Spain)
