Chebet shines bright as Kenyans impress in Rabat Diamond League

Kenyan athletes held their own with grit and class at the 2025 Rabat Diamond League, bagging multiple podium finishes across a range of track events on a night lit up by world-leading times, personal bests, and meet records.

In the men’s 100 metres, Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala settled for second place after being edged out by South Africa’s Akani Simbine, who continued his unbeaten run this season with a 9.95-second finish. Omanyala clocked 10.05, ahead of American Fred Kerley, who came in third at 10.07. While not a win, Omanyala showed consistency and solid form as he builds up to the Paris Olympics.

Kenya’s middle-distance women were in flying form. Nelly Jepchirchir claimed her second consecutive Diamond League victory in the 1500m, clocking a season’s best of 3:58.04. She held off Ethiopia’s Worknesh Mesele (3:58.44), while Dorcus Ewoi completed the podium in third with a personal best of 3:59.25.

Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi fought hard in a stacked two-lap race, coming home third in 1:43.37. Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela took the win in a world-leading 1:42.70, improving his previous mark from Doha. Britain’s Max Burgin finished second in 1:43.34, narrowly ahead of Wanyonyi.

There was drama and delight in the men’s 1500m. Kenyan-born American Jonah Koech stole the spotlight with a meet record of 3:31.43, slicing six seconds off his personal best to claim victory. Reynold Cheruiyot and Festus Lagat ensured Kenyan presence on the podium by finishing second and third respectively. Koech, who recently won a 5000m race in Kenya, now sits third on the world list for the season.

Kenya’s most memorable moment came from double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet in the women’s 3000 metres. Chebet stormed to victory in 8:11.56 - now the second-fastest time in history, behind only Wang Junxia’s 1993 world record of 8:06.11. Her performance smashed the African record previously held by Genzebe Dibaba. Italy’s Nadia Battocletti set a national record to finish second in 8:26.27, while Ireland’s Sarah Healy posted a personal best of 8:27.02 for third. Chebet’s run further cemented her place among the greats of distance running.

In the men’s 3000m steeplechase, Edmund Serem delivered a composed run to claim third in 8:07.47. Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali thrilled the home crowd with a world-leading time of 8:00.70. Germany’s Frederik Ruppert slashed 14 seconds off his personal best to take second in 8:01.49, setting a new German national record. Serem’s performance affirmed his status as one of Kenya’s rising stars in the event.

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