Thomas Longosiwa, the 2008 Olympics 5000m bronze winner, was the only athlete in his country’s much vaunted brigade to emerge with credit from the Swedish capital when he ran a polished year best of 12:59.17 for second in his speciality.
Freshly coined World Junior champion, Alfred Kipketer, mixed with the big boys and finished second in Race 1 of the men’s 800m in 1:46.69.
Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris won the men’s 5000m in a world season’s best of 12:54.83, holding off the challenge of Longosiwa and Glasgow champion, Mwangangi.
The trio had broken clear of USA’s flagging Galen Rupp as the race approached the bell in the 1912 Olympic stadium
Longosiwa, who pushed Edris all the way to the line, finished ahead of the taller figure of Ndiku who was nonetheless rewarded with a personal best of 12:59.17, with Rupp finishing a distant fourth in the blustery conditions in 13:05.97.
Having led for three laps after the last pacer dropped away, Rupp was left to solve a tactical problem as the leading men settled in behind him.
In the men’s Javelin, Yego who defended his African crown in Morocco last week, was briefly in contention when his 84.67m effort took him up to second before three successive foul throws saw him slide down the order to finish fourth.
Finnish Antti Ruuskanen won with 87.24m ahead of Germany’s Thomas Rohler (85.12m) and former world champion, Tero Pitkamaki (84.73m) who closed the podium.
Viola Kibiwott, the former World Cross junior champion finished fifth (4:04.17) in the women 1500m final won by American champion, Jennifer Simpson (4:00.38).
Hyvin Kiyeng (9:17.04) was the best placed Kenyan in the women 3000m steeple with Worlds silver medallist, Lidya Chepkirui, continuing with her unrewarding season after finishing 10th in 9:36.37.
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