Kenya’s Doris Lemngole cruised to victory at the Lausanne Diamond League in Switzerland on Wednesday night, triumphing in the women’s 3000m steeplechase.
The youngster clocked 9:16.36 to win the race, ahead of Ethiopian Sembo Almayew who came second in 9:20.36.
American Olivia Markezich finished third in 9:20.73.
The 23-year-old American-based runner was competing in her first race since she secured her ticket to next month’s World Championships in Tokyo.
Lemngole clocked 9:24.6 to finish second in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the national trials held at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi in July.
It is turning out to be quite the year for the University of Alabama runner who in June became the first female collegiate to run the women’s 3000m steeplechase in under nine minutes.
Lemngole clocked 8:58.15 on her way to victory at the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Outdoor Championships in Eugene.
The youngster will be joined in the women’s 3000m steeplechase team for Tokyo by Olympic and world bronze medalist Faith Cherotich as well as Pamela Kosgei.
Elsewhere, Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi continued his preparations for the World Championships with a second-place finish.
Wanyonyi clocked 1:43.29 in the men’s 800m, finishing behind American Josh Hoey, who stopped the timer at 1:42.82 for the win.
Mohammed Attaoui of Spain finished third in 1:43.38 in what was a close race to the podium.
It was the first time the 20-year-old has missed out on first since May this year when he finished third at Rabat Diamond League, after clocking 1:43.37.
Wanyonyi also finished second in the men’s 800m at the first leg of the Grand Slam Track Series in Kingston where he clocked 1:46.44.
Thus far, Wanyonyi has been victorious at the Oslo, Stockholm and Monaco legs of the Diamond League circuit.
He will be representing Kenya at next month’s World Championships in Tokyo, where he will be accompanied by Nelson Kebenei and Kelvin Kimtai in the men’s 800m.
The youngster will be seeking to upgrade from the silver he clinched at the last edition of the competition in 2023 in Budapest – where he clocked 1:44.53.
