Kenya's hits and misses after end of track season: Chepngetich and Obiri were outstanding as they added Diamond Trophies to their impressive show at worlds

Kenya's Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon celebrates after winning the gold medal in the women's 1500-meter final during the World Athletics Championships in London Monday, Aug. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Once again the 5,000m and 10,000m men were disappointing at World Championships and Diamond League.

Once again, the might of Kenya was felt in another riveting international track and field season with new stars born, kings toppled and veterans making a final bow.

The signature event of the year is undoubtedly the 16th IAAF World Championships in Athletics that ran from August 4 to 13 at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Stadium in London, the United Kingdom.

Kenya was two medals shy of matching the performance achieved 10 years earlier at the 11th edition of the biennial track and field showpiece- Osaka 2007 (5-3-5)- in bringing home five gold, two silver and four bronze.

Here we look at five athletes who excelled and an equal number who flopped after the end of the track season:

Hits

1. Hellen Obiri

In accepting the local female long-distance track running mantle vacated by Olympic 5000m champion, Vivian Cheruiyot who moved to the roads this season, work was cut out for 27-year-old Hellen Obiri.

What followed was a scintillating season as she finally landed her first global title at her fourth attempt when she scorched Ethiopian defending champion, Almaz Ayana to bag 5000m gold in 14:34.86.

The Kenya Defence Forces runner then added the IAAF Diamond League crown by winning the second series final in Brussels in 14:25.88 besides running world leads and national record of 14:18.37 (5000m) and 8:29.81 (3000m indoors) in a remarkable 2017.

 

2. Elijah Motonei Manangoi/George Maitamei Manangoi

Having two world champions at the same distance from the same family is a rarity never witnessed in Kenya until 2017 when the Manangoi household made history.

First up was George who won the IAAF World Under 18 (youth) boys’ 1500m title at the punishing attitude of Nairobi in 3:47.53 on July 14 inspiring his elder brother Elijah to upgrade Beijing 2015 silver to London 2017 gold in 3:33.61 at the senior event.

Despite losing the Diamond League honours at the first final in Zurich, the elder Manangoi ran a world leading 3:28.80 at the Monaco leg of the elite circuit competition to cap a sensational year for the family that hails from Ntulele, Narok County.

 

3. Conseslus Kipruto

Italian Francesco Panetta was the last non-Kenyan to win the men 3000m steeplechase title at the Worlds and save for the efforts of Olympic champion, Conseslus Kipruto, Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali and American Evan Jager would have upset the apple cart in London.

Having won two silvers behind the great Ezekiel Kemboi at Moscow 2013 and Beijing 2015 editions of the Worlds, a nagging ankle injury seemed to have put paid the ambitions of Kipruto to add the London crown to his Olympics gold from Rio 2016.

In a show of mental fortitude and excellent timing, Kipruto reeled in El Bakalli and Jager on the homestretch to retain Kenya’s proud record in the men’s steeple in London and a fortnight later, snatched the Diamond League crown from the Moroccan, virtually on the line.

4. Faith Chepng’etich

The just live by Faith, so the saying goes and having moved to the front of the queue in women’s mid distance running by winning the Olympic title last year, all eyes were on Faith Chepng’etich.

The petite Kenyan eye candy did not disappoint after flooring an imposing field to win her first senior world title in London and taking the Diamond League crown in the face of harsh competition to women’s 1500m world leader, Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, who was installed as rank favourite since switching to train with renowned American coach, Alberto Salazar in Oregon.

5. Geoffrey Kirui

Not surprisingly, another gold winner from London 2012 closes the hit list. No one gave Geoffrey Kirui a chance when the 24 year-old lined-up for the men’s race of the 2017 Boston Marathon in April and the same distance at London 2017.

The 2011 Africa Junior 10000m confounded everyone when he returned home victorious from both testing events and the world sat up to take notice as another global marathon super star was born.

 

Misses

1. Asbel Kiprop

History and the chance to match his idol, Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj and win a record-equalling men 1500m title in London but the lanky three-time winner never got his season off the ground as he receded to ninth.

The decorated three-time IAAF World Cross gold winner has since announced his intentions to seek better fortunes in the 5000m next season and to his credit, worked hard for teammates Manangoi and silver winner Timothy Cheruiyot for the Kenyan 1-2.

2. Ezekiel Kemboi

With greatness already assured, two-time Olympic and four-time world steeplechase champion decided- perhaps unwisely- to ‘un-retire’ after the Rio 2016 fiasco where he was disqualified from the bronze position.

Father time finally caught up with ‘Baba Yao’ in London where he was never even a factor in the race for the medals (finished 11th/8:29.38) and it was painful to watch the living legend Kemboi disappear from the greatest stage even without a footnote mention.

3. Women 3000m steeplechase team

If there is an inquest into London 2017, an entire chapter should be devoted to how the star-studded 3000m women steeplechase was put in the shade by American pair Emma Coburn who won gold in a 9:02.58 and silver winner Courtney Frerichs.

By the time Beijing 2015 champion, Hyvin Kiyeng, responded, it was already too late as she came home for bronze but with the capable Beatrice Chepkoech (fourth), Celliphine Chepteek Chespol (sixth) and Purity Cherotich (10th) as the supporting cast, their disjointed display in London should be the subject of a full inquiry.

4. Men 10,000m team

Having been blown off the park by Mo Farah at the Moscow 2013 and Beijing 2015 editions of the Worlds, one expected the trio of Geoffrey Kipsang, Bedan Karoki and Paul Tanui to have the measure of the great Briton in his track swansong event.

However, the Kenyans once again played to Farah’s hand with Ugandan Joshua Cheptengei being rewarded for his bravery of running at the front without fear to end up with silver as Tanui, to his immense credit, completed a hat-trick of bronze medals at the distance.

Ethiopian trio, Mukhta Edris, Yomif Kejelcha (fourth) and Selemon Barega (fifth) showed Kenyans how it is done in the 5000m when they ran the finish out of Farah to deny him a third successive Worlds distance double.

5. Julius Yego

In his defence, injuries once again plagued the YouTube Man in the run-up to and during the men’s javelin finals at the London Worlds.

However, nothing in the season prior suggested the Beijing 2015 champion was going to be a factor in his title defence as Yego put together his most underwhelming campaign since he burst into the limelight with his year best of 87.97m in Nairobi.

A 13th-place finish in London was all he could muster.