By Mutwiri Mutuota and IAAF

Jonathan Ndiku and David Mutua wrapped up the most successful outing for Kenya at the 13th World Junior Championships that ended in Moncton, Canada on Sunday night with outstanding golden runs in the men 3,000m steeplechase and 800m finals.

Albert Kiptoo (men’s 3,000m steeplechase) and Nancy Chepkwemoi (women 1,500m) weighed in with a silver and bronze on the final day to close the medal tally standing at 15 with seven gold, four silver and a similar number of bronze as Kenya reclaimed the overall World Junior title it last won in Beijing 2006. In the men’s 3,000m steeplechase decider, Ndiku was a superb winner as the19-year-old clocked 8:23.48, the fourth fastest junior time in the world this year to demolish the rest of the 12-man field.

After his display of front running Ndiku became the first man ever to win back-to- back steeplechase titles in the World Juniors and impressively, his country’s 12th title –in fact, only the inaugural title back in 1986 escaped Kenya’s stranglehold.

At the finish, Ndiku had more than 10 seconds to spare over compatriot Albert Kiptoo Yator (8:33.55) with Uganda’s Jacob Araptany holding on for bronze in 8:37.02.

"The race was very, very great. I’m so happy to win this race," Ndiku told IAAF. "I was wanting my teammate to come in front of me because I was needing some help.

"Last time, I won in Bydgoszcz in 2008. I did well because I defended my title. This race is our culture. It’s a Kenyan race."

Ndiku went through the first kilometre in 2:42.67 and his superior speed spoke for itself once again, and he was alone at 2km in 5:34.04. He closed the last kilometre unchallenged in 2:47.44 celebrating his second World Junior gold. There was also plenty of celebration for Yator whose run was a new personal best.

Kenya extended their total dominance of the men’s distance events to include the middle distances as Mutua ran down the US pair of Casimir Loxom and Robby Andrews on the 800m homestretch to complete a full set of gold medals. Kenya did not lose a men’s event at 800m or longer in Moncton.

Mutua took the victory in a PB 1:46.41, with Loxom another PB in second with 1:46.57. Andrews crossed in 1:47.00, just ahead of the hard-charging Niall Brooks of Great Britain, who scored another PB in 1:47.02.

In the women’s 1,500m, Ethiopia’s Tizita Bogale won after World Youth Champion, as Nelly Chebet fell back from the third lap.

Ireland’s Ciara Mageean took silver in a national junior record of 4:09.51, with Chepkwemoi clocking a personal best of 4:11.04 for the third medal.

Kenya topped the World Junior charts for the first time in Santiago, Chile in 2000 with 14 medals (seven gold, four silver and three bronze).

The medallists

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS Discipline

Dennis Chepkongin Masai 10,000m Men

Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku 1,500m Men

Mercy Cherono 3,000m Women

Jonathan Muia Ndiku 3,000m S/chase Purity Cherotich Kirui 3000m S/chase David Kiprotich Bett 5000m Men

David Mutinda Mutua 800m Men

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Albert Kiptoo Yator 3,000m S/chase John Kipkoech 5,000m Men

Mercy Cherono 5,000m Women

Cherono Koech 800m Women

BRONZE MEDAL WINNERS

Paul Kipchumba Lonyangata 10,000m Men

Nancy Chepkemoi 1,500m Women

Lucia Kamene Mwangi 3,000m S/chase Alice Aprot Nawowuna 5,000m Women