Whilst the Kenyans, Conseslus Kipruto leading, had been piling on the pressure up to that point, El Bakkali elbowed his way up into the lead with a lap to go to the finish and retained that position to the end, despite opposition from Benjamin Kigen. He savoured his victory a few metres before the line. It’s his third win of the season in Diamond League, where he is currently topping the leader board. Kigen, beaten in the sprint finish, bagged second place in 8’07’’69, whilst Ethiopian Lemecha Girma took third in 8’08’’63. Tenth, Frenchman Djilali Bedrani attempted to draw level with the leaders and finished in a time of 8’16’’91.
