Walk: Going gets tough for Kenyans at IAAF World Championships

Walker Grace Wanjuru in training session at Kipchoge Stadium, Eldoret [PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Grace Wanjiru's dream of producing a piece of history at the global walk race stage suffered a huge blow after she finished 37th in her second IAAF World Championships on Sunday.

The 38-year-old Kenyan, who has dominated continental arena with six Africa Championships and one Africa Games title, was praying for a similar show, but it was not to be as she clocked 1.35.22.

In the men's corresponding 20km walk race, Kenyan Samuel Gathimba clocked a new life-time best of 1 hour 22 minute and 52 seconds in 30th spot, while compatriot Simon Wachira did not finish the race.

Wanjiru finished 42nd in 1:37:49 during last year's Olympics, while in 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, she won bronze medal, before breaking her own Africa record in one hour, 30:43 minutes in Durban, South Africa.

A dramatic last 100m saw leader Lyu Xiuzhi disqualified, leaving Chinese teammate Yang Jiayu to take gold in the women's 20km race walk.

A cracking race came down to just four when the afterburners were lit at 16 kilometres, and the order of medals was still undecided with the line in sight.