News30 Aug 2016


Ayana and Kipruto target world records in Brussels – IAAF Diamond League

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Almaz Ayana in the 5000m at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Rabat (© Kirby Lee)

Fresh from winning Olympic gold in Rio, Kenyan steeplechaser Conseslus Kipruto and Ethiopian distance runner Almaz Ayana have set their eyes on breaking world records at the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme on 9 September, the second of two IAAF Diamond League finals.

Ayana, the Olympic 10,000m champion, will attempt to run the fastest 5000m time in history.

The world 5000m champion broke the 10,000m world record when winning in Rio, clocking 29:17.45. She had to settle for bronze in the 5000m in Rio, but will use the race in Brussels to make up for that loss as she looks to better the mark of 14:11.15 set by Tirunesh Dibaba in 2008.

Ayana has already come close to that mark on three occasions this year, clocking 14:12.59 in Rome, 14:14.32 in Shangai and 14:16.63 in Rabat. She now owns three of the six fastest times in history.

Kipruto, meanwhile, has been undefeated on the IAAF Diamond League circuit this year and set a world-leading PB of 8:00.12 in Birmingham.

In Brussels the 21-year-old will target the world record of 7:53.63, also set in Brussels in 2004 by Qatar’s Saif Saaeed Shaheen.

USA’s Olympic silver medallist Evan Jager will also be in the race and aims to break his own North American record of 8:00.45.

Organisers for the IAAF

2016 IAAF Diamond League calendar
6 May – Doha, QAT
14 May – Shanghai, CHN
22 May – Rabat, MAR
28 May – Eugene, USA
2 Jun – Rome, ITA
5 Jun – Birmingham, GBR
9 Jun – Oslo, NOR
16 Jun – Stockholm, SWE
15 Jul – Monaco, MON
22-23 Jul – London, GBR
25 Aug – Lausanne, SUI
27 Aug – Paris, FRA
1 Sep – Zurich, SUI
9 Sep – Brussels, BEL

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