African athletes shine at Diamond League

Rabat, May 23: African athletes produced impressive performances at the third stage of the athletics Diamond League here.

Kenyan Conseslus Kipruto, Moroccan Abdelati Iguider, Ethiopian Almaz Ayana and South African Caster Semenya made the best performances for the continent in front of an enthusiastic crowd of some 22,000 here on Sunday, reports Xinhua.

In the men's 3,000 metre steeplechase, Kipruto crossed the finishing line in 8 minutes and 2.77 seconds, the best of the year and the fastest ever recorded on African soil.

As for the men's 3,000m, Iguider, 1,500m Olympic and world medal holder, finished in 7:36.85, also setting the best time of the year.

In the women's 5000m, world champion Ayana finished in 14:16.31, making the third best of all time.

In the women's 400m, South African Caster Semenya finished in 1:56, making the best time of the year and a second successive Diamond League win this year.

Nearly 200 athletes took part in the Rabat meeting, including 20 Olympic medallists and 39 world outdoor champions.

After its first meeting on African soil, the Diamond League moves to Eugene in the United States for the next meeting on Saturday.

Launched in March 2009, the Diamond League features the world's best athletes competing across 32 individual track and field disciplines.