Millions at stake as Kenyans eye glory in Brussels Diamond League season finale

After a 14-meeting series, the Diamond League concludes with the final in Brussels, Belgium on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 September.

Kenyan athletes will be among the Olympics superstars from Paris 2024 set to compete in the Belgian capital, alongside several global champions who have either been invited to the final or amassed enough points to qualify for the Memorial Van Damme.

In addition to the Diamond League Trophy, winners will earn a wildcard entry to the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Japan.

Winners will also receive substantial prize money, with runners placed first walking home with Ksh3,870,000 (USD 30,000), Ksh1,548,000 (USD 12,000) for second place, and Ksh903,000 (USD 7,000) for third place.

The two-day event is expected to see athletes battle in 32 disciplines that promise thrilling encounters among some of the world’s best.

Kenyan athletes will largely feature, with three-time Olympic gold medalist Faith Kipyegon and 800m queen Mary Moraa headlining the event.

Leading the charge on Friday is World Champion Moraa, who is determined to end her season on a high after scintillating performances this year.

Moraa will be banking on her win from the Zurich meet last week, where she clocked an impressive 1:57.08 to outpace Britain’s Georgia Bell (1:57.94) and the USA's Addison Wiley (1:58.16).

Apart from Zurich exploits, the 800m Olympic bronze medalist has managed wins in Doha on May 10 (1:57.91) and Lausanne on August 22 (1:57.91) while smashing the 600m world record at the ISTAF Berlin meet with a time of 1:21.63.

She finished second at the Eugene meeting on May 25 (1:56.71), trailing Olympic champion Keeley Hodgkinson of Britain (1:55.78).

Moraa boasts 31 points, joint with Britain's Jemma Reekie, from her four League meetings, whereas Reekie has competed in five.

The 24-year-old faces familiar competition in Brussels, including Bell, Jamaica’s Natoya Toppin, and World Indoor silver medalist Reekie.

Mary Moraa's 2023 Odyssey

In 5,000m, Kenya will have Jacob Krop (12:45.71), Cornelius Kemboi (13:00.68), Nicholas Kipkorir (12:46.33), and Ronald Kwemoi (13:02.56), who will be keen to beat strong competition from Ethiopian contingent Yomif Kejelcha (12:38.95), Berihu Aregawi (12:40.45), Haile Bekele (12:42.70), and Hagos Gebrhiwet (12:36.73).

In the 3,000m steeplechase, Kenya's Amos Serem (8:02.36) and Olympic bronze medalist Abraham Kibiwott (8:05.51) will face Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali (7:56.68).

Ethiopian competitors Samuel Firewu (8:04.34) and Getnet Wale (8:05.15) will also be in the race.

Zurich Diamond League: Beatrice Chebet sets world lead and meeting record in blistering run

The men’s 1,500m race will see the 2019 World Champion Timothy Cheruiyot, with a personal best of 3:28.28, compete alongside compatriots Reynold Cheruiyot (3:30.30), Boaz Kiprugut (3:35.26), and Brian Komen (3:28.80).

The 1500m men’s event has proved challenging for Kenyans in recent Diamond League meets, with the last victory dating back to 10 May in Doha, where Komen led a Kenyan clean sweep.

At the Oslo and Monaco meets, Cheruiyot was the only Kenyan to reach the podium, finishing second.

Since then, Kenya has missed the podium in the last two League meetings.

Cheruiyot sits second with 21 league points from three meets, trailing Ingebrigtsen, who has 38 points from five.

Komen is fifth (18 points from three meets), whereas Reynold follows in sixth (17 points from four meets).

The Kenyans face a daunting task from Olympic champion Hocker, Olympic 5,000m champion Ingebrigtsen, and Nuguse.

The action will continue on Saturday, where fireworks are expected, with Kipyegon, Faith Cherotich, Abraham Kibwott, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Amos Serem, and Wilberforce Kones all on the track.