Kenya shocked as Bahrain's Jebet wins women's 3,000m steeplechase

Rosefline Chepngetich of Kenya, Ruth Jebet of Bahrain and Daisy Jepkemei of Kenya pose on the podium after winning the women's 3,000m steeplechase final during day five of the IAAF World Junior Championships at Hayward Field on Saturday. [PHOTO: AFP]

The women’s 3,000m steeplechase title was captured by Bahrain’s Ruth Jebet in 9:36.74.

Jebet simply ran away from the field over the last kilometre of the race to win Bahrain’s first ever IAAF World Junior Championships gold medal, and their first women’s medal of any hue.

Kenya’s world youth champion Rosefline Chepngetich began surging at the end of the third lap in a bid break the pack up but then Jebet moved up and got to the front just before the 2000m mark, which was reached in 6:26.18.

Chepgnetich and her teammate Daisy Jepkemei, the defending champion, ran away from the pack followed Jebet but had no response to her kick on the last lap and came home second and third respectively.

Earlier in the afternoon, USA’s Tre’tez Kinnard was the fastest of the three men’s 800m semi-final winners in 1:48.04, but the favourite for the final on Sunday remains Kenya’s 2013 IAAF World Youth Championships gold medallist Alfred Kipketer, who was a comfortable winner of his semi-final in 1:48.67.

At the end of the penultimate day of the championships, USA are leading the way on the medal table, the host nation having eight gold medals, four silver medals and five bronze medals. Russia and France are the next best with three gold medals apiece.

Meanwhile, triumph and tragedy has seemed to accompany the USA senior 4x100m teams in equal amounts in recent years but their junior counterparts showed their elders how to slickly pass the baton with two superb wins at the IAAF World Junior Championships, Oregon 2014 on Saturday.

The men take pride of place by virtue of crossing the line in 38.70, the third-fastest junior performance in history, only bettered by their compatriots at the 2004 and 2012 championships. Jalen Miller produced a sold first leg and handed off to 100m silver medallist Trayvon Bromell, who ran a terrific back straight to give the USA the edge over an inspired Japan.

Kendal Williams, the 100m winner, had a slightly ragged bend but still handed over in the lead to 200m gold medallist Trentavis Friday who showed he could shine on Saturday as well after his feats the preceding night with a storming last leg that took his team clear of their Japanese rivals. Japan came home second in 39.02.