NAIROBI, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Steeplechase world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya, European 5,000m champion Sifan Hassan and world indoor record holder Yomif Kejelcha are the athletes to beat during the Shanghai Diamond League meeting in China on May 18.
Chepkoech, who is ranked world number one in the steeplechase, will hope to repeat last year's dramatic victory when she takes on 2015 world champion Hyvin Kiyeng, ranked second, world U20 champion Celliphine Chespol and 2016 African champion Norah Jeruto in the water and hurdle race.
Shanghai Diamond League meeting is the second race in the 14-tier series that has stops in Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States.
"I have no intentions on attacking the steeplechase world record this too early in the season. However, as we progress, I may attempt it. What is important is for me to start the season strong and build on it towards the World Championships in Doha, Qatar later in the year.
"I have not won the world championships and I believe I have the capacity to secure it this year," said the Kenyan on Friday.
Chepkoech won last year's race in Shanghai when Jeruto slipped and fell in the home straight after the pair had broken free before the final lap.
Bahrain's Asian champion Winfred Yavi, who is ranked world number 7, and Ugandan teenager Purity Chemutai, will also be ones to watch as they seek to break up the Kenyan train.
Sifan Hassan, the world number one over 5,000m, will step back down to the 1,500m, the distance she contested when she first raced in Shanghai back in 2014.
Since then she has become one of the best distance runners in the world, winning four European titles, a world indoor 1,500m title and two world bronze medals.
The Dutch distance runner will face 2016 world indoor bronze medalist Gudaf Tsegay, world ranked number two at 1,500m, 2016 world indoor silver medalist Dawit Seyaum, African champion Winny Chebet, Nelly Jepkosgei, and USA's 2013 world silver medalist Brenda Martinez.
"This season is special because we have the World Championships. But the focus now is to start strong and win in Shanghai. I also want to gauge my preparedness," said Jepkosgei.
The men's 5,000m promises to be equally enthralling with a line-up containing Ethiopia's world indoor and outdoor champions, Yomif Kejelcha and Muktar Edris going head to head alongside USA's world and Olympic medallist Paul Chelimo and Morocco's 2012 world indoor 1,500m champion Abdelaati Iguider.
Add to the picture world 5,000m number one Selemon Berega, who ran the fastest 5,000m of 2018 to win the IAAF Diamond League final last August, plus fellow Ethiopian Hagos Gebrhiwet and there's quite a race in prospect in Shanghai.
