Sunday, August 28, 2011

Kiplagat leads marathon sweep; Cheruiyot takes 10000M gold


Kenyan women call shots
From Rajeev K, Daegu, Aug 27, DHNS:

Edna Kiplagat was on the crest of a spectacular Kenyan wave that swept the distance-running medals in devastating fashion on the first day of the 13th World Championships in athletics on Saturday.

Vivian Cheruiyot is delighted after capturing the 10000M gold. ReutersNo country had ever won all three medals in a World Championship marathon but on this day, that history was rewritten with Kiplagat leading compatriots Priscah Jeptoo and Sharon Cherop to the top three positions after recovering from a fall in the final stages of the gruelling contest.

Hours later and at a different location, another Kenyan basked in spotlight as Vivian Cheruiyot led a sweep of the first four places by her country’s runners in the 10000 metres to nail the first track gold of the championships on a day of high drama and upsets.

If Kiplagat’s fall and subsequent rise in the loop circuit in downtown Daegu provided the dramatic touch, the fall of two Olympic champions added the shock factor on the opening day at the Daegu Stadium. Steve Hooker, Australia’s defending champion as well as the Olympic champion in pole vault, failed to register a height in the qualifying round while Britain’s 400M champ Christine Ohuruogu too crashed out in the first round, after being credited with a false start.

Kiplagat stumbled and fell after Cherop clipped her heels at a water station with about five kilometres left to run in the women’s marathon. But she got up and regained her composure to dominate the race again, finally winning the first gold of the championships in two hours, 28 minutes and 43 seconds.

“I was a little shocked. At first, I was afraid I had hurt myself,” said the 31-year-old about the slip-up. “But I am okay and am happy to have won in my first championship,” added the Kenyan policewoman, who is coached by her husband Gilbert Koech, also a marathon runner.

Kiplagat, who had run the Bangalore World 10K in June as preparation for this race, took over the reins with about ten kilometres to run and never looked in trouble barring that stumble. The Kenyan had come into the race as favourite after victories in last season’s New York and Los Angeles marathons and she ran like one, spreading her arms wide in celebration after crossing the finish line. Kenya, not surprisingly, also won the Marathon World Cup – the team event – ahead of China and Ethiopia.

As the beat of Korean drums faded away after a colourful opening ceremony in the evening, the Kenyan party resumed, with Cheruiyot at the forefront in the 10000M. It was a cat and mouse game with the defending 5000M champion battling it out with holder Linet Masai, Sally Kipyego and Priscah Cherono. Meseret Defar and Meselech Melkamu led the Ethiopian challenge but no real threat to the Kenyan supremacy ensued as the race progressed.

The lead changed hands several times between the Kenyans before Cheruiyot decided it was time to make the final charge. Masai was left behind in her wake as Cheruiyot revealed her sprinting powers to come home in a career-best time of 30:48.98. Kipyego took silver in 30:50.04, pushing Masai (30:53.59) to third. Cherono claimed the fourth position as Ethiopians were decimated – a sad fall for a country that had celebrated two such medal sweeps in this event, in 2001 and 2005.

“I am really happy to win my first championship 10000M race in a personal best time,” said Cheruiyot. “We were inspired by the marathon girls and wanted to achieve the same,” added the 27-year-old, thanking her husband and coaches for the support.
Hooker crashes out

Hooker’s triumph braving a groin injury was one of the highlights of the last World Championships. But on this day, the Australian couldn’t motivate himself to clear his opening height of 5.50M.

“My body was fine, mentally it wasn’t there. I had no confidence in what I was doing there. It is difficult to get a good jump when you feel that way,” the Commonwealth Games champion said.
Bolt cruises

Meanwhile, the first act of the Usain Bolt show went on expected lines, with the champion almost walking through his first-round race, in 10.10 seconds after a quick start. Other contenders too made it through – Yohan Blake (10.12), Christophe Lemaitre (10.14), Nesta Carter (10.26) and Michael Frater (10.26) all winning their heats.

Results:
Women: 10000M: Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya) 30:48.98, 1; Sally Kipyego (Kenya) 30:50.04, 2; Linet Masai (Kenya) 30:53.59, 3.
Marathon: Edna Kiplagat (Kenya) 2:28:43, 1; Priscah Jeptoo (Kenya) 2:29:00, 2; Sharon Cherop (Kenya) 2:29:14, 3.

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