Day Two of The World Athletics Under 20 Championships (© Erick Barasa)
August 19th, Nairobi, KENYA- Despite the lack of a crowd to cheer them on, Kenyan athletes delivered inspired performances in the distance running finals at the World Under-20 Championships on Thursday.
Benson Kiplagat pressed the pace to win gold in the men's 5000m final at the World Under-20 Championships on Thursday evening, giving Kenya its first medal at the event.
Kiplagat had a comfortable position a few meters into the bell lap before defeating Tedese Worku, the victor of the men's 3000m final on the first day of the championships, with Levi Kibet claiming bronze.
Just two laps into the race, Addisu Yihune and Worku rushed to the front to set the pace with work in the hot pocket, leaving Kibet and Kiplagat in the dust. With two laps to go, Worku, Kiplagat, and Kibet dropped Yihune as the three reached the 4000m mark in 10:47.54, indicating an exciting finish.
Kiplagat then outkicked Worku with 200m to go and held on to win the race in 13:20.37, his new personal best, to retain the title won by Kenya in Tampere, Finland in 2018 when Edward Zakayo won gold. Worku finished second in 13:20.65, with Kibet finishing third in 13:26.01 and Yihune finishing fourth in 13:32.76.
“I didn't expect to win this race, to be honest. I was aiming for a top-five finish, but I still had energy and gas in the final 300m, so I decided to kick. It feels fantastic to have won my country's first gold medal. I'd like to thank my teachers and coaches for their assistance. “This is just the beginning for me,” Kiplagat said.
Kibet was pleased with his podium finish and stated, "I am pleased with the bronze medal." My teammate Kiplangat and I had planned ahead of time to work together to keep our Ethiopian rivals at bay. I'm glad it produced results.”
There was double gold success when Kenyan Benson Kiplangat won the men's 5,000m title, while Teresiah Muthoni Gateri won the women's 3,000m.
Teresiah Muthoni Gateri of Kenya produced a powerful finish to see off the challenge of Ethiopian Melknat Wudu in the women's 3000m, winning in 8:57.78. Wudu was passed by Zenah Jemutai Yego on the final lap, completing a Kenyan one-two.
Melknat Wudu of Ethiopia won bronze in 9:00.12. Muthoni, who is currently based in Japan, is now hoping for a smooth transition to the senior level, with her sights set on the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
“I am prepared for the next step in my life. "This victory will spur me on in my next journey, which is to compete in the next Olympics," Muthoni said.
“I told myself before the race that I had to go for gold, and I did it. I'm hoping that my victory will inspire other kids to start running. Participating in these championships has been a positive experience for me, and I hope to represent my country in other future events."
Zenah Jemutai outperformed her fifth-place finish in Tampere in 2018.
"I'd like to dedicate my medal to the Kenyan fans who were unable to enter the stadium due to the Covid-19 pandemic," Jemutai said.
Mercy Namachanja for World Athletics.
