Kenyan athletes rule Beijing track

By Jonathan Komen and IAAF

Beijing, China: Kenyan athletes produced a superlative performance at the IAAF World Challenge in Beijing, China, on Tuesday.

The brilliant showing in the brought back memories of Kenya’s triumphant squad at the 2008 Olympic Games, where they bagged six gold medals.

Hillary Kipsang, who trains under Golazo Sports management, was too strong for his opponents as he led unprecedented top-four spots for Kenya.

Kipsang, who boasts an impressive 8:07.71 personal best and the sixth world junior all-time, showed little respect for a classy line up that had world 3,000m steeplechase silver medalist Brimin Kipruto and World Youth silver medalist Gilbert Kirui.

Kipsang, who has a 7:53.18 in 3,000m, opened a wide gap as he strolled to victory in eight minutes and 9.17 seconds.

Kipruto (8:15.19), who trains under Global Sports Communications stable in Kaptagat, came in second as Kirui, the silver medalist at the World Youth in Lille France in 2011, and little-known Bernard Mbugua followed in 8:15.67 and 8:19.14 respectively.

Elijah Chelimo (8:24.72) was too slow for Uganda’s Jacob Araptany (8:19.46) but edged out Olympic sixth-placed Benjamin Kiplagat (8:29.85) and Simon Ayeko (8:42.49) of Uganda.

Eritrea’s Habte Abraham and Chinese Xu Pengcheng followed in 8:45.93 and 8:55.74 respectively.

Former world 800m champion Alfred Yego stunned a strong field to wear the men’s two-lap race crown in 1:46.43 ahead of Edwin Kiplagat (1:46.46) and Nicholas Kiplagat (1:47.50).

Czech Republic’s Holusa Jakub (1:47.79), Chinese Teng Haining (1:48.03) and former World Youth 800m bronze medalist David Mutinda (1:50.25) followed.

Africa 1,500m champion Eunice Jepkoech Sum obliterated a quality line up to lift 1,500m title in 4:04.49.

Mary Kuria (4:05.17) closely followed as Nelly Jepkosgei (4:08.59), Ethiopia’s Teferi Sembere (4:09.67) and Akkaoui Malika (4:10.97) of Morocco came third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Kenya’s former Africa junior 800m champion Lydia Wafula dropped off.  Gatlin Justin of USA won 100m in 9.91, beating fellow countryman Rogers Mike (9.96) and China’s Su Bingtian (10.06).

Felix Allyson of US also won the women’s 200m contest in 22.36 seconds, outsmarting Moore Lashauntea (22.85), another American as Wei Yongli (23.19) of China and Rusakova Natalia (23.79) of Russia.