Mercy Cherono of Kenya wins the women's 3000m in Moncton (© Getty Images)
Kenya's Mercy Cherono after brilliantly defending her 3000 metres title was presented with the first gold medal of the 13th IAAF World Junior Championships by Canada's Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Stephen Harper.
Cherono in a race which went to the wire, won in a World leading time for the year of 8:55.07 when although finishing very quickly herself, she had to withstand blistering finishes from Emebet Anteneh who clocked a personal best 8:55.24 and Layes Abdullayeva who set a Azerbaijan record of 8:55.33.
Cherono "felt so comfortable"
"It feels so good, I was so happy because I defended my gold," said Cherono on a hot and humid Moncton evening. "The best part was that I felt so comfortable out there.
"My plan was to defend my gold, but the race was difficult because of the weather," added Cherono surprised she didn't with her finishing pace win by a bigger margin: "I expected to have more of a lead."
Anteneh denied victory by such a small margin, said: "The weather is a bit challenging but otherwise, it was a great race.
"I have a good finishing kick so my plan was to kick with 200m to go, but when others boxed me in, I took off earlier in the last lap.
"My mistake was to not position myself better earlier.
"I used all my strength. My goal was to win and that's what I've been training towards. I didn't succeed but hopefully next time I will."
Abdullayeva who revealed she is Ethiopian-born in Debre Zeit but who grew up in Addis Ababa where she started running, said: "The pace was a bit slow at the beginning so I kept trying to speed it up.
"But in the end I couldn't manage because I’ve been having some knee pain."
The winner of her nation's first ever Championship medal, added: "I settled permanently in Azerbaijan about two years ago, but I was in the process of moving there for a while before that.
"My next goal is the European Championships, in a couple weeks' time - I’ll be running the steeplechase."
Mr Harper, Canada's leading statesman, sat amongst an enthusiastic crowd, the majority adorned in the nation's national colours of red and white to see Cherono collect the first golden award of the seven-day championships.
Spectacular opening ceremony
His presence signified the importance the Canadian government, State of New Brunswick and the bustling City of Moncton, placed upon the biggest sporting event ever to be staged in the regions of Atlantic Canada.
Earlier in the day George Le Blanc with more athletes competing than earlier this year at the Winter Olympics in Canada, perfectly summed up fetching the Championships to the proud and prosperous venue.
"We are a small city but think like a mighty big one," said Mr Le Blanc, exemplified tonight when Maple Leaf flags held by proud spectators of the host nation waved like beacons from the bleachers at the University of Moncton stadium.
The crowd certainly enjoyed a spectacular opening ceremony where athletes from the participating countries marched with pride behind their National flags and the roar as the Canadian contingent entered the stadium was deafening.
Sprint finish
After 90 minutes of spectacular musical, colourful and high-energy entertainment, Mr Harper who was accompanied by Gary Lunn the minister of State for Sport, officially opened the second staging (Sudbury hosted the 1988 edition) of the Championships on Canadian soil.
The Prime Minister and a packed out stadium then watched a thrilling and closely contested 3000m which concluded an electric evening on and off the track.
Cherono the pre-race favourite was always in contention and after a very sedate first kilometre of 3:08.81, produced a sound tactical move at 1600m which split the field into a pack of six.
It wasn't a decisive break by the 19-year-old who first showed her vast potential for the future when winning the 2007 IAAF World Youth Championship 3000 gold medal and then successfully stepped up an age group in Bydgoszcz the following summer.
The group with the improvement in pace and Cherono at the point, went through 2000 swiftly in 6:02.88 and approaching the bell (9:52.96) all of them were still in contention with Cherono definitely looking the most comfortable.
Indeed sticking to the inside of the track she resisted a surge from Anteneh with just under 300m remaining and when on the final bend her fellow African put in another kick, she again fought off the challenge.
Cherono erupted coming into the home straight but not only Anteneh was hot on her heels but Abdullayeva who three metres adrift, brilliantly closed rapidly on the pair and looked set for a surprise victory.
But Cherono who notched up a 62.11sec final lap kept her nerve as she did two years ago to win by by the narrowest of margins from Anteneh and 19-year-old Abdullayeva.
Now Cherono this year's IAAF World Junior Cross Country champion on a second return to Bydgoszcz future career looks exceedingly bright and already she is being groomed for stardom by her inclusion in the Samsung Diamond League circuit.
David Martin for the IAAF
