– SEPTEMBER 4, 2011
By DENNIS MABUKA
Kenya’s splendid performance in Daegu continued today as Abel Kirui bagged the country’s seventh gold medal in the men’s marathon. Kirui, a police sergeant led the Kenya ammunition with another 1-2 finish as compatriot Vincent Kipruto came second.
Abel Kirui the world marathon champion
Kirui clocked 2.07.38 seconds to retain the crown he won in Berlin two years ago.
Kirui commanded the race with a breakaway run after the 20km mark shielded by heavy competition from fellow Kenyans who ran as a pack after the half marathon mark.
But Kirui maintained a steady three minutes lead to the end crossing the finish line with one of the best gaps ever witnessed at the world championship.
Compatriot Kipruto came in second for silver in 2:10.06 (more than 3 minutes later) while Ethiopian Feyisa Lelisa won bronze with a time of 2:10.32.
Kirui, 29, will now shift focus to the London Olympics in 2012 but told IAAF.com after winning the race that though there is always great competition in Kenya, he feels like he deserves a spot on that team for Olympics.
“The selection in Kenya is very stiff because there is a load of competitors,” Kirui said.
“But, I was the defending (world) champion and I was fighting to be one of
the best ones for Olympics next year. It was my great opportunity (today),”Kirui said.
Other Kenyans David Barmasai Tumo (2:11.39) and Eliud Kiptanui (2:11.50) finished in 5th and 6th positions respectively behind Moroccan Abderrahime Bouramdane.
On Saturday, Kenya bagged two more medals when Asbel Kiprop powered another 1-2 finish for Kenya to end the jinx in the race with a first gold in the world championship that had been dominated by Kenyan born Bernard Lang’at of team USA.Kiprop out sprinted his team mate Silas Kiplagat in a spectacular final to win gold in a time of 3:35.69.
Kiplagat who has run the fastest time in the race this season came in second for silver recording a 3:35.92 time while Matthew Centrowitz from USA came in third 3:35.92.
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