SUM AND BIRECH TRIUMPH: Yego also unchallenged at AK meeting in Eldoret
Athletics
By
Odero Charles
| Apr 17, 2016
Diamond League winners Eunice Sum and Jairus Birech concluded the last Athletics Kenya track and field weekend meeting in Eldoret with sparkling victories yesterday.
Birech took on more than 130 athletes in the men’s 10,000m final on the last day of the three-day meeting after competing in 1500m and 5,000m preliminaries at Kipchoge Keino Stadium.
Birech, who is known more in steeplechase clocked 28:35.7 to finish ahead of Peter Emase and Amos Bitok who managed second and third positions in 28:50.2 and 29:16.0.
The absence of three-time world 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop did not water down performance in the middle distant events as Timothy Cheruiyot and new comer Kipyegon Bett entertained the spectators with equal gusto.
Cheruiyot won the 1,500m in 3:36.8. Edwin Kiptoo was second in 3:38.3 while Mathew Kiptanui finished third in 3:38.7.
In 800m, Kipyegon took charge of the two-lap event, sprinting in 1:46.3 to beat Bernard Benson and Boaz Kiprugut who were second and third in 1:47.2 and 1:47.5.
Emmanuel Kipsang took the 5,000m title after covering the 12 and half circuit in 13:44.1. The second and third positions were claimed by Fredrick Kipkosgei and Nixon Chepseba who clocked 13:50.3 and 13:57.0.
The steeplechase crown went to John Koech who chalked 8:36.9 for the victory with Justus Kiprotich (8:38.5) and Vincent Rutto (8:47.4) in the podium positions.
Although most top names skipped the last day of the championships, the presence of Sum in the women line up was an inspiration to many upcoming athletes.
Sum won the 800m in 2:03.2 to confirm she was the queen of the two-lap event. Veteran Silvia Chesebe and upcoming Agly Nalianya were second and third in 2:4.4 and 2:04.8 while Alawiaya Mackie followed in 2:08.2.
Before the competitions ended, javelin world champion Julius Yego warmed the field with a 78.86m throw.
The second best throw came from Gilbert Bett with 69.67m.