Silas Kiplagat was a DNF and Olympic bronze medalist Thomas Longosiwa didn't start as his wife passed away the day before the race.
Merga just beat out Yasin Haji as they had identical times with steepler Jarius Birech and 5000 Olympic bronze medalist Thomas Longosiwa 3rd and 4th. Aprot beat out Asian steeple record holder Ruth Jebet by 4-seconds as Linet Masai and Mercy Cherono were 3-4.
Steepler Jarius Birech was 4th (28:58) and NZ's Zane Robertson 5th (28:59) with Olympic 5000 bronze winner Thomas Longosiwa back in 7th (29:25). World XC bronze medalist Netsanet Gudeta won the women's 5K (15:57) over Janet Kisa (16:02) and World Champs 4th placer Viola Kibiwot (16:02). *Full Results
Edris ran 28:46 to win over Edwin Soi and Thomas Longosiwa.
An American man or woman had never won a 5000 on the DL circuit until today when Ben True kicked home to the title. Can he challenge Galen Rupp at USAs?
Storylines abound in New York. Duane Solomon is one of several Americans who will face Rudisha, while the women's 800 includes Brenda Martinez and Ajee Wilson. Ben True and Nick Willis take on top talents Hagos Gebrhiwet, Dejen Gebremeskel and Thomas Longosiwa in the men's 5,000. Plus Grant Fisher goes in the Dream Mile and Mary Cain runs the 1000 in her first race since taking a break from NOP.
The biggest news was Mo Farah pulling out of the meet before hand, but on the track there was a thrilling women's 200m, in the infield one of the best javelins ever, and in the distances Hassan and Amos picked up their first DL wins of the year and Bernard Lagat another master's WR in one of his least impressive runs of the year.
12 of the 16 DL events (including all 4 mid-d/distance races) in Birmingham are the same as they were three days earlier in Rome, leading to several rematches, including Dawit Seyaum vs. Sifan Hassan over 1500 and Hagos Gebrhiwet vs. Thomas Longosiwa at 5,000. Also, Stephanie Garcia seems poised for a fast time in the women's steeple.
Farah will face five men who have broken 7:31 including Hagos Gebrhiwet and Yenew Alamirew. The women's 1500 features '14 world leader Sifan Hassan and '13 world champ Abeba Aregawi, while Ethiopians Sofia Assefa and Hiwot Ayalew will race in the women's steeple. Justin Gatlin (100) and Allyson Felix (200) headline the non-distance action.
Farah will face world 5000 silver medalist Hagos Gebrhiwet, world indoor 3000 champ Caleb Ndiku, 12:48-man Yenew Alamirew, world 5000 bronze medalist Isiah Koech, Olympic bronze medalist Thomas Longosiwa, Edwin Soi and Albert Rop.
*MB: Farah back to dodging competition
Betsy Saina and Linet Masai in women's race. Men's is stacked with world 10,000m bronze medallist Paul Tanui, Stephen Sambu and sub-27 man Kenneth Kipkemoi, Uganda's Moses Kipsiro, Yenew Alamirew and Olympic bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa.