Kibiwott, Serem go head-to-head with El Bakalli in Lausanne

Commonwealth Games steeplechase champion Abraham Kibiwott and bronze medalist Amos Serem have their work cut out when they line up for the Lausanne Diamond League (DL) race set for Friday 26 August.

The duo faces Olympic and World champion Soufiane El Bakkalli who has made the water and barrier event his forte since the exit of former world champion Conseslus Kipruto who is slowly making a comeback.

Duplantis soars high in Laussanne

Leonard Bett completes the Kenyan contingent in the race that will see the Moroccan El Bakalli look to pip the DL leader Lamecha Girma as the series heads to the final set for Zurich in September.

At the Commonwealth Games, Kibiwott had to dig deep in his reserves to beat India’s Avinash Mukund Sable who denied Kenya a 1-2 as Serem finished third. Kipruto who was also in the race could not handle the pace and faded to sixth.

On Paper, the Olympic and world champion is the favourite as he is the only athlete on the field to dip under eight minutes with his 7:58.28 which is his season best and a Personal Best.

Cheruiyot set to renew rivalry with Ingebrigtsen at Lausanne DL

Meanwhile, the men’s 1500m will be a repeat of the World Championships with the absence of champion Jake Wightman. Four-time DL trophy winner Timothy Cheruiyot faces off with Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

While the European champion Ingebrigtsen managed silver in Oregon at the World championships, Cheruiyot faded to a disappointing sixth. He recovered for silver at the commonwealth games, denied by Australia’s Oliver Hoare.

Also, on the field is African Champion Abel Kipsang who headlines the standings in the series at 21 points, a point ahead of the Commonwealth Games champion. Both have run three events so far and this will be Kipsang’s fourth.

Chelimo lines up against Niyonsaba, Hassan in Lausanne DL

Elsewhere World 5000m silver medalist and Commonwealth Games champion Beatrice Chebet headlines a loaded 3000m list that also has DL defending champion Francine Niyonsaba and world 10,000m bronze medalist Margret Chelimo among others.