BY OUR CORRESPONDENT
Double Commonwealth Games silver medalist Andrew Kiptoo Alamisi won the first gold medal for Kenya at the ongoing World Athletics Under 20 championships in Lima, Peru.
The Africa Under 18 championships 1,500m silver medalist in Zambia last year, Alamisi won the 5,000m title, for first medal and gold for the country.
“I really wanted win this gold because of my preparations and to my country. I want to thank God for helping be win my first gold,” said Alamisi, the 1,500m and 3,000m Commonwealth Youth silver medalist.
He said that various coaches have guided him to glory and wanted to pay back for their efforts.
“My coaches from the camp to this place have been of great impact and the only thing I could do was to win gold,” he said.
The 5,000m men came after the women 5,000m race where the top Kenya was in position four.
“When I saw our ladies failing to win any medal, I had to come in and save the country. I had to to do something great that I achieved. Right now I have one year in junior, coming o an end next year and I will be competing in the 10,000m in future,” said Alamisi who will be chasing both the world cross country and world championships ticket next year.
He won the title after clocking 13:41.14 ahead of Ethiopian Abdisa Fayisa (13:41.56) with Ugandan Keneth Kiprop winding up the podium with 13:41.73 as his season best.
Former world cross country junior champion Ishamel Kipkurui Rokitto managed 4th position after running with an injury.
“This is my last year in juniors and I will be chasing for a place in the world cross country and World championships. However, I did my best to finish 4th because I have not been training because of my nagging injury. The results are good for me,” said Kipkurui.
In the Ladies 5,000m race, Mercy Chepkemoi was 4th as top Kenyan when she clocked 15:33.29 as season best ahead of compatriot Sheila Jebet in 15:51.93.
The race was won by Ethiopian Medina Eisa with the championships record of 14:39.71 leading compatriot Mekedes Alemeshete (14:57.4) to second in a 1-2 finish as Ugandan Charity Cherop completed the podium in 15:33.29 as season best.
Earlier on, the pair of Diana Chepkemoi and Sharon Chepkemoi stormed into the finals of 3,000m steeplechase.
The National trials winner, Diana finished second in heat two to qualify into the finals when she clocked 9:47.97 behind Ethiopian Sembo Almayew (9:30.59) in the races dominated by Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda.
Her counterpart Sharon (10:07.59) as her personal best, finishing third behind Ethiopian Firehiwot Gesese (10:00.96) with Ugandan Loice Chepkwemoi completing the podium at 10:01.85
Today’s program
20:50- Men’s 3,000m steeplechase heats- Mathew Kosgei and Edmund Serem (Captain)
00:10- men 1,500m heats- Josphat Kipkirui and Kelvin Kibiwott Koech
00:45- 1,500m women- Miriam Chemutai Kibet and Mary Nyaboke Ogwoka
