Kiprop, Kiplagat team up to deliver elusive 1,500m gold

By Kimathi Kamau in Daegu Olympic and now world champion, Asbel Kiprop finally completed the rite of passage from a precocious talent to a world beater when he broke his nation’s 27-year jinx by delivering the first ever gold medal in men 1500m at the World Championships in a polished display of tactical master-class.And he has the emergence of compatriot Silas Kiplagat, who took silver in the landmark Kenyan 1-2 on Saturday to thank as the pair elevated their country to uncharted waters in the biennial track and field global jamboree. The pair pushed Kenya’s medal tally to six gold, five silver and three bronze, the best ever haul. “It has been my wish for a long time to win the top medal on the track and hear our national anthem played and I’m so happy I did it at last,” Kiprop looking strangely composed for a man who had just entered his nation’s legend said.There was none of the finger wagging, taunting of his opponents or showboating that had characterised his earlier championships triumphs at the All Africa Games in 2007 and last year’s Africa Championships as he sealed victory in a time of 3:35:69.But his moment of glory had been long in coming despite being handed the Olympics title through the doping ban of Bahrain’s Rashid Ramzi.Learnt mistakes “I learnt my mistakes right from Osaka where I ran the first 800m so fast and Bernard Lagat beat me and last time in Berlin when I stayed behind and everyone beat me. “I’m happy and feel excited having won in the stadium. I managed to change my tactics, run a bit in front and then sprint at the end to beat my colleagues, including Kiplagat.”He added: “I want to do the same at the Olympics next year. I was in control this time but next year, the Kenyan Trials will be tougher than this year since so many people will want to make the team.”In truth, the rapid ascendancy of Kiplagat, who dipped in 3:35.92 for the second medal last year with the fastest time in four years (3:27.29), was the kind of shock therapy Kiprop needed to fulfil his enormous potential. “I do not know how I lost this race, I have to watch again to understand where I went wrong since I wanted nothing else but to be the first Kenyan 1500m world champion,” Kiplagat, the world leader coming to Daegu said. “Next year, I have to make sure I win the Olympics, but I congratulate Asbel for today’s win and as Kenyans, we are happy to have won this gold.”Having lost to Kiplagat at the Kenyan Trials, Kiprop left the showman’s bag back at home as he came in with razor sharp focus that has been evident, having not lost a race here since he checked-in and improved his record to 5-3 in their head to head count when it mattered.As they came for the bell, the Kenyan pair as well as American bronze winner Matthew Centrowitz (3:36.08), Morocco’s Abdelaati Iguider, Spain’s Manuel Olmedo and Ethiopia’s Mekonnen Gebremedhin were among those in medal contention.Kiplagat, keen to add the world title to his Commonwealth crown was the first to charge into a sprint for the line as Asbel, a few feet behind, used his longer legs to stay in touch.At the final turn, Kiprop eased to the lead on the inside lane and assiduously accelerated through the homestretch to stop at the finish the world champion.With Kiplagat going on the war path, Kiprop, in yet another statement of his maturity opted to navigate around drawing battle lines offering, “Some of these things are domestic affairs and I prefer to keep them that way.”But with the pair, Kenya have in their possession two runners who will be at the mainstay of men metric running for the considerable future.Their future battles will be reminiscent of the keen rivalrly retired legends, Moroccan world record holder, Hicham El Guerrouj and Noah Ngeny, who chased each other to within an inch of their lives in their early 2000s heydays.

Kiprop, Kiplagat team up to deliver elusive 1,500m gold

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Kiprop, Kiplagat team up to deliver elusive 1,500m gold

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