ASBEL ANCHORS MEDLEY GOLD: Front running Kiprop scorches field as Kenya win mixed relay

WORLD CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP - KAMPALA From left: Kenya's Asbel Kiprop, Beatrice Chepkoech, Winfred Mbithe,and Bernard Kipkorir celebrates wining mix relay race during the IAAF World Cross Country Championship in Kololo, Kampala, Uganda on March 26, 2017. [PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD

It was a contest that attracted huge interest as Kenyans had already fired warning shots.

And it did not disappoint as Asbel Kiprop, the three-time world 1,500m champion, killed two birds with one stone: he anchored the mixed relay team to victory, and earned a second gold medal, at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, Uganda.

Asbel has now put the IAAF World Athletics Championships 1,500m title in his crosshairs.

“I knew when to react. That’s why I relaxed for the better part of the race. I wanted to save energy for the last 200m so that I could open the gap that could see Winfred Nziza ensure the lead in second loop.

“I am happy to have won team gold medal after the junior title I won in Mombasa in 2007. It raises my CV as an athlete a lot. It also inspires me as I prepare to defend my title at the world championships in London in August,” said Asbel.

Turkey, with an all former Kenyan cast in Aras Kaya, Meryem Akdag, Ali Kaya and Yasemin Can, bagged the team’s bronze medal as the first non-Africa nation. Hosts Uganda finished fourth as Bahrain, Morocco, USA, Tanzania, Spain and Eritrea followed.

Olympic 5,000m silver medallist Paul Chelimo, who was born and bred in Iten, lined up for America.

This time Asbel elected to run from the front, shooting into the lead with 100m to the tape to open a 60m gap against Ethiopia’s Welde Tufa from, which the team would build on to earn a gold medal.

He led Tufa (5:25) in a brilliant 5:19 before passing over the wristband to Winfred Nziza (6:07), who widened the gap a little bit against Bone Cheluke (6:16) of Ethiopia.

Bernard Kipkorir (4:58) ran the fastest time against Ethiopia’s former world youth 3000m champion Yomif Kejelcha (5:22) while Olympian Beatrice Chepkoech (5:25), who produced a good show against Ethiopia’s world 1,500m record Genzebe Dibaba (5:27).