Chebet and Chepkirui lead chase for glory

In line with Kenyan tradition in both men and women steeplechase in any major athletics championships, the locals go into the girls’ 2,000m steeplechase final as the hot favourites as the Under-18 championships enters day three today.

And once again athletics rivals Kenya and Ethiopia will lock horns at 6.35pm with the home country well aware of the lost opportunity in opening day’s 3,000m final where Immaculate Chepkirui lost gold to Ethiopian rivals Abersh Minsewo.

Kenya is represented by Caren Chebet (6:19.50) and Mercy Chepkirui (6:19.70), the two fastest U-18 girls in the world this season and know they are carrying the weight of a nation as they strive to deliver the much needed gold.

Chebet, a Kenya Certificate of Secondary School Education candidate at Saramek Secondary School in Kericho County, has the responsibility of leading the nation to glory and also a place in history as the Nairobi edition marks the end of the IAAF World Under-18 championships.

The country won the last two girls’ 2,000m steeplechase titles at the Under-18 Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine, in 2013 and 2015 edition in Cali, Colombia with Celliphine Chepteek Chespol and Sandrafelis Chebet taking 1-2 positions. Rosefline Chepng’etich won in Donetsk.

However, the Kenyans will not have it easy with Ethiopian duo of Ethlemahu Sintayehu Dessi (6:30.84) and Betelihem Mulat Desta (6:33.35) keen to spoil the party.

While their female counterparts will be fighting for the medals, the boys will be in action at 10am in the heats as they fight for slots for Sunday’s final.

Kenya has dominated in steeplechase from Under-18, Under-20, Olympics Games to World Championships, something that Leonard Kipkemoi and Cleophas Kandie will have to keep in their mind as they enter the track in boys’ 2000m steeplechase heats.

Kipkemoi has the fastet time of 5:28.52 compared to the rest.