Ethiopia
Great Britain’s Mohamed Farah has now been defeated by two Ethiopians sandwiching his 10 gold medals in 5000m and 10000m fields.
Farah has said team Ethiopia must have planned to see him out. In Daegu in 2011, Ibrahim Jeilan outran Farah on the final lap in the 10000m race. In London, it was 23-year old Muktar Edris, who defeated Farah amid thrilling chants from the crowd.
I was highly prepared for this race and I knew I was going to beat Mo Farah. The 2012 world U20 champion put up a stunning finishing pace in the final 300m, which Farah was unable to defeat, winning within 13:32.79. Edris avoided unnecessary surges, keeping in the sixth position in the first hundreds of meters in the race. Farah’s British teammate Andrew Butchart shot to the lead in the first 500 meters through to the first kilometer in 2:48.20.
While Mo Farah was third, it was a comfortable pace for all the 14 athletes. At 1600 meters, Edris came to the front but soon relaxed maintaining a stable pace. Australia’s Patrick Tiernan then spurred up sprints, increasing his pace at 3000 meters but it didn’t last even a kilometer.
Top runners Farah, Chelimo, Edris and other Ethiopians Yomif Kejelcha and Selemon Barega struggled for advantage positions to win the race.
At half a kilometer to the finish, Edris and his team mate came to the fore as the bell rang for the final lap. They created a a two-metre lead with Farah striving to come first. Edris sprinted to the finishing line ending Farah’s dream of finishing his career a champion.
“I was highly prepared for this race and I knew I was going to beat Mo Farah,” Edris told IAAF shortly after. Mo Farah still hopes to close as a legend in London.
Kenya
Team Kenya hauled 11 medals; five gold, two silver and four bronze to finish second behind United States in the medal standings as the London World Championships came to a close Sunday.
Its Olympic 5,000m silver medallist Hellen Obiri who started the evening in style, winning Kenya its third women’s World 5,000m title before Elijah Manangoi wrapped up the championships with gold in men’s 1,500m final.
However, it was a drop in performance by Team Kenya, who topped the medal standings for the first time in the history of the championships in 2015 Beijing. Kenya hailed 16 medals; seven gold, six silver and three bronze medals.
Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Paul Tanui started Kenya medal hunt with bronze in men’s 10,000m on the first day of the championships on August 4 before Agnes Jebet went for another bronze in women’s 10,000m the following day here.
Geoffrey Kirui would hand Kenya its first victory in the men’s marathon on day three of the Championships with the 2011 and 2013 women’s marathon champion Edna Kiplagat going for silver in women’s marathon.
Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Chepng’etich would claim a double within one year with women’s 1,500m glory on the fourth day before Conseslus Kipruto followed it up with victory in men’s 3,000m steeplechase on day five.
World Under-20 800m champion Kipyegon Bett won bronze in the men’s 800m also on day five. Last Friday came with shocker for Kenya when Hyvin Kiyeng relinquished her World title to settle for bronze in women’s 3,000m steeplechase as her compatriots flopped.
Americans Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs produced the shock of the Championships when they swept to a 1-2 victory in women’s 3,000m steeplechase dealing Kenya’s quartet a major blow.
South Africa
Sports minister Thulas Nxesi has lauded on the South African athletics team after their stellar performance at the IAAF World Championships in London.
The SA squad earned the nation’s best ever medal haul at a world championships, finishing third and scooping a total of six podium places.
“Congratulations are all in order to the entire team including Caster Semenya as she continued to carry out flag high in adding to our gold tally in the women’s 800m final and the bronze in the women’s 1 500m final – serving as a great ambassador to our women athletes,” said a statement issued by Nxesi.
“Both her achievements couldn’t have come at a better time as we continue with our Women’s Month celebration.
Kindly follow us on twitter:@AfricanVoice2
