Kenyan Langat wins women's 1,500m at Diamond League

Olympic champion Nancy Langat of Kenya produced her finest performance of the recent years as she won the women's 1,500m at the inaugural IAAF Diamond League here on Friday evening.

Spurred on by the Ethiopian fans who occupied most of the stadium's first bend, Gelete Burka controlled much of the race behind the pacesetter for the first three circuits.

But Langat, along with compatriot Viola Kibiwott, shadowed her closely, with both preparing to pounce over the final 250 meters.

And the night turned out to be Langat's show for an impressive closing gear, which she turned to midway through the final bend to take the lead for good en route to a 4:01.63 world leader and meet record.

Langat had only won two 1,500m races since her Olympic triumph, and clearly this victory was a crucial one for the 28-year-old, who is on the mend from illness which slowed her considerably in 2009.

"I had health problems last year, but training has gone well this year. I came here to run my race and I'm very happy with my time," said Langat.

Burka held on for second in 4:02.16, two-time world champion Maryam Jamal of Bahrain finished a well-beaten 10th in 4:09.25.

The women's javelin throw was fought till the final fourth round. Olympic silver medallist Mariya Abakumova of Russia set the tone with a 66.82m effort in the first round, indicating an assault on her own world lead (68.31).

After Martina Ratej made 67.16m in round two to beat her own Slovenian national record by more than one meter, Abakumova responded in round three with a 68.89m heave to retake the lead and extend her world lead.

Ratej had nothing left in the tank and fouled her last two efforts, but Olympic champion Barbora Spotakova did, throwing 67.33m with her last throw to move finish runner-up.

World shot put champion Christian Cantwell of the United States who retained his world indoor title here two months ago, dominated the competition from the start and reached a world-leading 21.82m twice to dispense with the field. Even his shortest effort, a 21.32m in the opening round, would have sufficed for the win.

Germany's Ralf Bartels' opening 21.14m was his best, and good enough for second, with former world champion Reese Hoffa taking third with a 21.00m best.

In the women's pole vault, Silke Spiegelburg of Germany borrowed the poles to equal her career best of 4.70m with a third attempt to win the event, beating Tatyana Polnova of Russia to second, while Czech Jirina Ptacnikova and world champion Anna Rogowska of Poland shared the third place.

In the women's 400m, three-time world 200m champion Allyson Felix of the United States prevailed again in Doha, clocking 50.15 seconds for another world leader.

African champion Amantle Montsho of Botswana improved her season's best to 50.34 to beat Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills to third (50.50). World indoor champion Debbie Dunn of the United States was fourth (50.85) and Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu of Britain was fifth (50.88).

Source: Xinhua