FLYING KENYAN FLAG HIGH: Athletes continue to wow in major championships

Kenya's Eunice Jepkoech Sum celebrates with her national flag after placing third to take bronze in the final of the women's 800 metres athletics event at the 2015 IAAF World Championships at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium in Beijing on August 29, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE

Kenyan athletes staged a commendable 2015 athletics season –which, at best, stands out as a memorable one in as many years.

From the 41st IAAF World Cross Country Championships held in Guiyang, China; second Africa Youth Championships staged in Bambous City in Mauritius; ninth IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia to the Big City marathons and the 14-leg IAAF Diamond League meetings; the Kenyans were absolutely stunning at the finish line –and a bonus from Julius Yego's trademark scream on the pitch.

Agnes Jebet Tirop and Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor struck senior races' gold medals for Kenya at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Guiyang, China.

The 19-year-old Jebet re-affirmed her supremacy in 'running in the wild' as she improved the silver medal she won at the world cross-country championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in 2013.

Jebet fired up for revenge after Ethiopians orchestrated a podium against Kenyans in the junior women's race, before winning in 26:01.

Kamworor, who started running while a student at Lelboinet Secondary School in Keiyo South, won in 34:52 ahead of Bedan Karoki (35:00), who finally secured first medal competing in the national team. Ethiopia's bronze winner 21-year-old Muktar Edris (35:06) settled for bronze.

Ethiopia pulled a fast one on the Kenyans in women's 6km race when Yasin Haji beat Geoffrey Korir, Alfred Ngeno and fourth-placed Dominic Kiptarus to win the individual gold medal.

Kenyans surrendered their 6km title defence bid after five Ethiopians shadowed Daisy Jepkemei and Africa junior champion, Rosefline Chepng'etich.

Ethiopia beat Kenya in team standings, but the latter will have another chance for revenge when the two nations meet in Kampala in 2017.

Kenya and Ethiopia are by far the most successful countries in the world championships' history, winning 121 of the 160 available team titles.

The two nations have met 122 times where both have fielded full teams, with Kenya beating Ethiopia 80-42.

The Africa Youth team collected 19 medals – eight gold, eight silver and three bronze medals –to finish second behind South Africa with 29 medals (17 gold, six silver and six bronze).

The performance was slightly better than the 13 medals –five gold, four silver and four bronze –that saw Kenya finish second behind USA at the World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia.

Kumari Taki topped in World Youth, Africa Youth and Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa. Meanwhile, World Youth 2,000m steeplechase champion Celliphine Chespol, Emily Chebet and Sandra Chebet are stars, who were born in 2015.

Virginia Nyambura (3,000m steeplechase), Asbel Kiprop (1,500m), Eunice Sum (800m) and Jairus Kipchoge Birech (3,000m steeplechase) were also crowned with IAAF Diamond League Trophies.

Apart from the good show at All Africa Games in Congo Brazaville, Eliud Kipchoge won London and Berlin marathons, while Stanley Biwott won the New York City Marathon title.

Gladys Cherono (Berlin), Mary Keitany (London and New York), Florence Kiplagat (Chicago) and Hela Kiprop, the world silver medallist, dominated the World Marathon Majors series.