Ugandan Chesang shines in 5,000 metres girls final

Geoffrey Korir and Rodgers Maiyo celebrates after winning gold and silver in 5,000m [PHOTOS: MARTIN MUKANGU/STANDARD]

By Oscar Pilipili in Lira, Uganda

It was a bountful day for Kenyan athletes bagging two gold and two silver medal on Wednesday.

Geoffrey Korir ran a tactical race to win the boys’ 10,000m event in the Championships’ new record time of 29:41.01 to earn Kenya its first gold medal and erase the previous record (30:04.08) set by Burundian Olivier Iraburuta in Mbarara, Uganda last year.

Rodgers Maiyo crossed the finish line in 30:02.05 to bag silver while Ugandan Felix Chemonges finished a distant third in 30:55.02 for bronze. The race started on fast pace with Korir, Maiyo and Chemonges forming the leading pack after eight laps.

Team strategy

But Korir and Maiyo decided to burn out Chemonges with seven out of the 25 laps to go. The Kenyans opened a 70m gap with the Ugandan losing ground.

With seven laps to go, Maiyo developed stomach stiches that slowed his pace and Korir opted to go alone.

Maiyo who won the nationals in his specialty said: “I’m happy to win my first international event and I intend to feature in World Junior Championships in next year’s competitions.”

Ugandans revenged well after Ukraine World Youth Championships Stella Chesang destroyed the field to win 5,000m girls race in 16:40.09 to leave Kenyans Everline Chelangat (16.58.00) and Jackline Chepwogen (17:00.00) in second and third positions.

Debut show

Chelangat and Chepwogen were making their maiden appearance in international circles.

It was also a 1-2 finish for Kenya in triple jump boys final after Gilbert Kemoi (15.21m) and Nchoe Junior (14.60m) occupied the top two positions in the field event. Kenya did well in sprints with most of its athletes qualifying for the finals to be held today.

But Kenya’s hope of winning 200m girls gold suffered a blow after Maximilla Imali, who won her heat, was controversially disqualified for stepping outside her line at the final bend.

In 15s rugby, defending champions Kakamega High recorded yet another big victory after they trounced EPM Carlos Magnus of Burundi 60-0 in a Pool “A” encounter to inch closer to the semis.

Bush Mwale and Elvin Otieno scored three tries each for the winners. Rodgers Gworo (two) and Peter Were scored the other tries for Kakamega High.