Kenya bags bronze

By Oscar Pilipili and IAAF

Kenya bagged its third medal after Agnes Tirop finished third in the women’s 5000m final in ongoing IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona.

Tirop clocked a personal best time of 15:36.74 to scoop bronze in the race won by Ethiopian Buze Dirika in 15:32.95 and followed by teammate Ruti Aga who stopped the clock at 15:32.95.

The second Kenyan in the race Caroline Kipkurui finished a distant fifth in a time of 15:58.10.

Tirop and Kipkurui appeared promising as they kept pace with Dirika and Aga until the last four laps when the Ethiopians engaged top gear to leave the Kenyans gasping for air. Kipkurui gave up the chase with three laps to go leaving the task of challenging the Ethiopians to Tirop.

Tirop then gave up the chase at the bell and with 250m to go it was clear that the race was between Dirika and Aga whose killer finish kick was just unbearable for opponents.

Kenya suffered yet another blow in women’s 800m after their only hope Agatha Jeruto failed to qualify for the semi-final.

Jeruto was placed third in heat three with a slow time of 2:03.98 to bow out of contention.

Alphas Kishioyan (46.46) and Boniface Mweresa (46.20) luckily qualified for men’s 400m semi-finals where they all finished third. They advance by virtue of being classified among fastest losers in the event.

Kenya’s hopes in the women’s 3000m steeplechase rest on Stella Ruto who was to run in the final last evening.

Kenyans who are seeking to retain overall title they claimed in Canada two years ago had claimed four medals on the second day of the event.

The medalist are: Mercy Chebwogen (gold 3000m) and Geoffery Kirui (silver 10,000m) and Philemon Cheboi (bronze 10,000m) and Tirop (bronze 5000m).

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