By OUR CORRESPONDENT
Denis Kipkoech and Diana Chepkemoi won silver and bronze respectively at the World Athletics Under 20 championships in at the Peru’s Capital City, Lima.
Kipkoech won silver in 3, 000m steeplechase for the country at the ongoing World Athletics Under 20 Championships at the timed 8:20.79 behind Norwegian Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen (8:20.56) with Great Britain’s Edward Bird going for bronze at 8:21.00.
Another kenyan Clinton Kimutai Ngetich finished in the 11th position at 8:25.51.
Kipkoech said that the race was not that easy although, after trying to reach the podium with silver.
“I must thank God for winning this silver. It was not a walk in the park but hard work that I put in for the medal,” said Kipkoech.
Commenting on his colleague, he said that they really wanted to have team work at the event but that did not work and decided to take the race head on for the second position.
“With my colleague, we wanted team work that did not work well especially in the last lap and because my colleague did not manage, I decided to go my way but it was unfortunate that I miscalculated in the last lap because I didn’t know that my competitors were that close to me,” he said.
He added that above all “In my heart, I am very happy and to my friend, and he should not give up. One day he will win a medal.”
Chepkemoi won bronze in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase in a race dominated by East African nations like Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia.
Chepkemoi settled for bronze after timing 9:29.84 in her new personal best with Ethiopian Sembo Almayew winning gold in 9:12.71 in the new championships record with Uganda’s Loice Chepkwemoi scooping silver with personal best of 9:18.84
“I am happy to have won a medal for my country Kenya. The race was not as easy as many will think and I know I will win next,” said Chepkemoi.
Earlier on, Africa 800m champion Sarah Moraa, Kelvin Kimutai Koech and Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech qualified to compete in the 800m finals set for tomorrow.
Commanding the lead from the gun to the finish, Moraa crossed the finish line first in 2:03.44 relegating Italian Lorenza de Noni (2:04.21) and Ethiopian Aster Areri earning the qualification as the fastest runner in position three at 2:04.58 with her personal best.
Moraa will be the only athlete to compete in the two lap race for Kenya at the championships final.
In the men’s category, Koech finished second in heat One after clocking 1:47.53 behind Australian Peyton Craig (1:47.31) and American Daniel Watcke was third in 1:47.68.
Kipkosgei ran from the front to win heat three at 1:48.24 followed by Japan’s Ko Ochiai who clocked 1:48.26.
In the 3,000m women, the Kenyan pair of Mercy Chepkemoi and Marion Jepngetich qualified to compete at the final.
Chepkemoi won in heat one in 9:22.72 ahead of Ethiopian Aleshign (9:22.77) with Ugandan Bentalin Yeko completing the podium at 8:22.81 with top eight making it to the final.
On her side, Jepngetich also won in her heat with 8:52.25 as her personal best beating Ethiopian marta Alemayo (8:52.57) and Uganda’s Keziah Chebet in 9:03.23 as her personal best to complete the top 16 athletes that will face off on final.
Kenyans will also be competing in three finals come tomorrow.
Stephen Ndangili Kihu will be on track in the 10,000m race trying to recapture the title last won by Heristone Wanyonyi in Nairobi.
Ndangili, the Africa under 18 race walk bronze medalist will hit the track at 5:25PM EAT and 9:25 am in Lima.
Sarah Moraa will be chasing her maiden world title to add on her Africa 800m title at 12:05 midnight as the only Kenyan in the two lap race. This will be followed by men’s 800m that has Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech and Kelvin Kimutai Koech.
Another Kenyan final will be in the 3,000m women where Mercy Chepkemoi and Marion Jepngetich will be on track.
