Eunice zooms to gold in the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Russia

BY JONATHAN KOMEN

MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Africa 800m silver medalist Eunice Sum stunned the world as she put on the 800m crown as the curtains came down on the IAAF World Athletics Championships here at the Luzhniki Stadium.

Sum, a mother of one, produced a brilliant run to anchor Kenya into fourth place in the medal standing with 12 medals (five gold, four silver and three bronze) –where 206 countries participated.

Kenya fell behind hosts and winners Russia, who bagged 17 medals (seven gold, four silver and six bronze), USA with  25 medals (six gold, 13 silver and six bronze) and Jamaica with nine medals (six gold, two silver and a bronze).

The runner from Kesses area near Moi University arrived in Moscow with little expectation, only to compete and make it to the final. But she is now the second Kenyan to win the 800m medal at the world championships after her mentor Janet Jepkosgei.

 She was, however, heart-broken when injury ruled out Jepkosgei, the 2007 world champion, from competing. 

And Sum, who failed to reach the finals of the Daegu 2011 Worlds, braved stiff competition in her search for gold in a race where she was Kenya’s only hope, leading none other than Olympics and Worlds title holder and local favourite, Mariya Zanivova across the line in Friday’s semi-finals.

And she lived up to the task, beating home-girl Zanivova under the enchanted gaze of more than 60,000 fans here in Moscow.

Jepkosgei, who is the only Kenyan to has won everymedal in the 800m at the world championships, selected Sum from her rural home in Eldoret and guided her into 800m running.

Sum, who is a cousin of Osaka world champion Alfred Kirwa Yego, enters history as the second Kenyan after Jepkosgei to win 800m at the world championships.

“I was uncertain of winning until three metres to the tape. I realised I was going to win it. But I was ready for anything as I found myself very strong in the final stretch. The body was responding well,” she said.

Before the race, Sum went to Jepkosgei for tips. “She encouraged me and told me to be courageous. I gathered the courage and decided to aim for at least a bronze medal although I initially wanted to make it just to the final,” she said.

Sum, who will compete at the Stockholm Diamond League next Thursday, carried the title in her personal best time of 1:57.38 ahead of Mariya Sanivova (1:57.80) and Brenda Martinez (1:57.91).

Jepkosgei, who has won three medals in her four world championships outings, was elated with the win.