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Chepkoech, Obiri to take part in Doha DL opener

Monday, February 17th, 2020 00:00 | By
Hellen Obiri. Photo/PD/FILE

Ericson Kiprono 

World 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri and World Steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech will highlight the first meeting of the 2020 Doha Diamond League slated for April 17.

Obiri pulled out of the National cross country champion on Saturday owing to a back injury she sustained during the‘Cross Internacional de Itálica’ in Santiponce, Seville, Spain on January 19.

Obiri, the 2016 Rio Olympic Games 5,000m silver medallist, would go on to lift her first World Cross Country title in Aarhus, Denmark last year on her way to retaining her World 5,000m crown in Doha the same year.

“I was up for the KDF event but I felt some pain in my back through to my right hamstring during the warm-up session. I had to pull out,” Obiri told People Sports.

World 5,000m silver medallist Margaret Chelimo who stunned Obiri to win the ‘Cross Internacional de Itálica’ .

Chelimo cruised to victory in 28 minutes and 37 seconds beating compatriot and World Cross Country Under-20 champion Beatrice Chebet to second place in 28:49 as Ethiopian Tsehay Gemechun settled third in 29:00.

Obiri, who is also the World 5,000m champion, came in fourth in 29:27 followed by compatriot Eva Cherono in 29:41.

“This is an Olympic year and I don’t want to aggravate anything. However, I have given it medical attention and I will be fine,” said Obiri, who hopes to open her track season either at World Athletics Continental Tour on May 2 in Nairobi or the opening leg of the Diamond League in Doha on April 17.

Obiri, multiple global medalist and most recently world 5,000m champion, is an experienced Diamond League competitor who ran 8:25.60 to win the 3000m at last year’s Doha Diamond League, while Peters - who won javelin gold in the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships - is a two-time NCAA champion and will make his Diamond League debut.

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