Mercy Chebwogen of Kenya wins the Women's 3000 metres final at the Barcelona World Junior Championships (© Getty Images)
Kenya’s Mercy Chebwogen became the first gold medallist here in Barcelona to secure the seventh win for her country at the event and the fifth in a row.
Ironically, the gold medal not only remains in Kenya but also still belongs to a 'Mercy’ as her compatriot Mercy Cherono already won the title both in 2008 and 2010.
Timed at 9:08.88, Chebwogen was a clear winner from Ethiopia’s Hiwot Gebrekidan, silver medallist in 9:09.27 and Great Britain’s Emelia Gorecka who bagged bronze marginally behind the Ethiopian (9:09.43).
The large pack of 19 women was led in the early stages by the Kenyan pair of Chebwogen and Brillian Jepkorir Kipkoech at a moderate pace. Before the first kilometre it was the fastest woman in the field this season Japan’s Myuki Uehara who ruled the race with Ukraine’s Maria Khodakivska closest to her. The 1000m point was reached in a slow 3:07.90 as the Japanese runner didn’t inject a brisker rhythm.
Further laps in the 1:15 territory led the group to a 6:16.15 split for the second kilometre; by then the reigning European Junior XC champion Gorecka was in charge of the pace and forced the rest of the line-up to follow her in straight line. The Briton’s relentless rhythm soon paid off and only the two Kenyans and the Ethiopian pair of Gebrekidan and Haftamnesh Tesfay remained in hot pursuit.
There were no major changes over the penultimate lap and the quintet hit the bell in 8:03.50 with Gorecka still leading. The decisive movement was made by the shortest of the Kenyans Chebwogen, who overtook the Briton some 240m left. However, Gorecka tried to recover the lead on the bend and the two athletes ran virtually even for some metres.
Entering the home straight Chebwogen easily got rid of Gorecka to romp home unopposed in a PB of 9:08.88 while the Briton was caught barely 20m to the line by Gebrekidan, both also setting respective career bests of 9:09.27 and 9:09.43. Actually no less than 12 athletes managed PBs including the fourth Tesfay (9:10:02) and the fifth Kipkoech, timed at 9:14.32.
The frantic closing 200m only took Chebwogen 30.85. At only 16 years of age, the Kenyan became the youngest of the three medallists while Gorecka landed the first British medal at the event since 1986.
Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF
Ironically, the gold medal not only remains in Kenya but also still belongs to a 'Mercy’ as her compatriot Mercy Cherono already won the title both in 2008 and 2010.
Timed at 9:08.88, Chebwogen was a clear winner from Ethiopia’s Hiwot Gebrekidan, silver medallist in 9:09.27 and Great Britain’s Emelia Gorecka who bagged bronze marginally behind the Ethiopian (9:09.43).
The large pack of 19 women was led in the early stages by the Kenyan pair of Chebwogen and Brillian Jepkorir Kipkoech at a moderate pace. Before the first kilometre it was the fastest woman in the field this season Japan’s Myuki Uehara who ruled the race with Ukraine’s Maria Khodakivska closest to her. The 1000m point was reached in a slow 3:07.90 as the Japanese runner didn’t inject a brisker rhythm.
Further laps in the 1:15 territory led the group to a 6:16.15 split for the second kilometre; by then the reigning European Junior XC champion Gorecka was in charge of the pace and forced the rest of the line-up to follow her in straight line. The Briton’s relentless rhythm soon paid off and only the two Kenyans and the Ethiopian pair of Gebrekidan and Haftamnesh Tesfay remained in hot pursuit.
There were no major changes over the penultimate lap and the quintet hit the bell in 8:03.50 with Gorecka still leading. The decisive movement was made by the shortest of the Kenyans Chebwogen, who overtook the Briton some 240m left. However, Gorecka tried to recover the lead on the bend and the two athletes ran virtually even for some metres.
Entering the home straight Chebwogen easily got rid of Gorecka to romp home unopposed in a PB of 9:08.88 while the Briton was caught barely 20m to the line by Gebrekidan, both also setting respective career bests of 9:09.27 and 9:09.43. Actually no less than 12 athletes managed PBs including the fourth Tesfay (9:10:02) and the fifth Kipkoech, timed at 9:14.32.
The frantic closing 200m only took Chebwogen 30.85. At only 16 years of age, the Kenyan became the youngest of the three medallists while Gorecka landed the first British medal at the event since 1986.
Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF
