More heartache in Gold Coast

It was another disappointing day for Kenyans yesterday at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia as the 3,000m women steeplechase team failed in their bid to strike gold.

It was a painful watch for most Kenyans as Aisha Praught, a Jamaican, won the water and barriers race –often regarded as Kenya’s traditional race epecially in the men ranks.

Chespol, with a Personal Best (PB) time of 8:58.78, which was the fastest in the field was tipped to easily lead her colleagues in a sweep of the podium places and she showed signs of doing it in the final two laps.

She broke away in the final lap, opening a 40m lead sending delirious Kenyan fans into frenzy at the Carrara Stadium. The celebration was however, short-lived, as Praught closed the gap and upstaged her in the homestretch.

After being disqualified in 2015 (Beijing) and 2017 (London) as well as finishing 14th at the Rio Olympics, Praught had other ideas.

She won in a PB of 9:21.00 ahead of Chespol (9:22.29) and defending champion Purity Cherotich Kirui (9:25.74).

Rossie Clarke (9:36.29) of England, Genevieve Lacade (9:42.69) of Australia and Kenya’s Fancy Cherono (9:46.27) followed in that order.

“I was ready to win gold medal and was certain until the last 200m when my body gave in. I just couldn’t sprint and gave up with 50m to the finish line. It’s sad a Jamaican had to take the title from us,” Chespol said.

Kirui said she expected to retain the title she won four years ago in Glasgow, but she never had enough energy to keep up the pace.

Praught, a geology student at a university in USA, said she was determined from the onset to take up steeplechase.

“I have always really admired this race and this is despite our country having quite a good number of sprinters. At 19, I ran 59 seconds in 400m, but still longed to one day compete in steeplechase. I kept on training. While in the US, I train a lot.

“I knew Kenyans are very strong and I decided to give it my best. I saved enough energy for the finishing kick. And it all worked out. I am happy for the gold medal,” Praught said.

Kenyan women could also not retain two crowns at the just concluded IAAF World Athletics Championships in London last year.

Kenya lost women’s 3,000m steeplechase title to America’s Emma Coburn, the Olympic bronze medalist while her teammate Courtney Frerichs settled for silver leaving defending champion Hyvin Kiyeng to contend with bronze.

Kenyans were also disappointed after Maxmilla Imali, a medal prospect, finished fourth in 51.32 in 400m.