Semenya haunts Kenya again: Kenya lose third straight Commonwealth Games title

Athletics - Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games - Women's 1500m - Final - Carrara Stadium - Carrara Stadium - Gold Coast, Australia - April 10, 2018. Gold medalist Caster Semenya of South Africa, silver medalist Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya and bronze medalist Melissa Courtney of Wales. REUTERS/Paul Childs

Bett and Koech headline 400m hurdles, Imali expected to make history tonight.

Kenya once again failed to protect her turf as Beatrice Chepkoech bowed to South Africa’s Olympic 800m champion Caster in 1,500m at Carrara Stadium yesterday.

The team has relinquished three crowns from the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow — with titles from Olympic champion Faith Chepng’etich (1,500m), Joyce Chepkirui (10,000m) Caleb Mwangangi (5,000m) all gone.

Yesterday, Chepkoech stormed into the lead from the 600m mark and controlled the race even as Semenya trailed in fourth place.

Semenya employed her typical behind-the-pack sprint with 50 metres to the tape to win in a games record of 4:00.71 —a South African record.

She erased Olympic 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri’s 4:04.43 games record set in Glasgow four years ago.

Chepkoech, who comes from Sironok village in Nandi County, settled for silver in a personal best time of 4:03.09 while Mellisa Courtney (4:03.440 of Wales bagged bronze. Mary Kuria (4:05.88) finished ninth.

Chepkoech said: “I opted to front run for fear that I could not catch up with Semenya, who has a strong final kick. Had I allowed her to lead, she could have dampened my spirit. I’m happy for the silver medal.”

Semenya said she was grateful to win her maiden 1,500m jewel. “It was a tactical race. Chepkoech is a strong athlete,” she said.   

Nicholas Bett, the 2015 world 400m hurdles champion, will marshal forces with his elder brother Aron Koech, the Africa bronze medallist in the race final tomorrow.

Bett, who has failed to impress since storming onto the global stage, is keen to replicate his previous form.

“I have been out due to injury. But I have recovered well and hope to perform well,” Bett said.

“I’m slowly but steadily getting back into my form,” he added.

Bett won heat three in 49.24 seconds ahead of Jeffrey Gibson (49.75) of Bahamas while Koech (49.28) finished second behind England’s Jack Green (49.24). William Mbevi (50.92) exited the championship after finishing sixth in heat one.

Wycliffe Kinyamal and Jonathan Kitilit will chase the men’s 800m jewels tomorrow against Botswana’s defending champion Nijel Amos.

Yesterday, Kinyamal won heat One in 1:45.56 ahead of Kyle Langford of England, who posted 1:46.61.

Amos, who stunned two-time Olympic champion David Rudisha two years ago at Hampden Stadium in Glasgow beat homeboy Luke Mathews (1:46.53) and Cornelius Tuwei, who bowed out of the championship in 1:47.10.

Kitilit won heat three in 1:45.12 ahead of Scotland’s Jake Wightman (1:47.43).

Maximilla Imali will fly the national flag in women’s 400m tonight after winning her semi final easily in 51.52 ahead of Nigeria’s Ajayi Yinka (51.81). Gladys Musyoki took the wooden spoon in the second semi final.