It was back to back joy for Kenya on day two of the World U20 athletics championships as Teresia Muthoni and Benson Kipangat won gold medals in the 3000m women’s and the men’s 5000m finals.
After a disappointing day one where no Kenyan featured on the podium, Team Kenya strategized and made sure that they at least emerged top on the second day, grabbing two of the nine gold medals to be competed for.
There were also other medals in the men’s 5000m and the women’s 3000m where Levi Kibet and Zena Jemutai added to the count.
After a good morning session, the afternoon session was halted slightly after 2:00pm local time as the heavens opened with a downpour that forced some of the field events to be postponed.
When action resumed at around 4:20pm, it was the men’s 1500m semi finals where Kamar Etiang and Vincent Kibet Keter sought for slots in Saturday afternoon slots. The two were successful by winning each of their heats to give Kenyans hope for more gold on day four. Keter (3:42.35) emerged winner in heat one in a time of Melkeneh Azize (3:44.81). Etiang won heat two in 3:33.12.
To the finals, the 5000m men’s final was the first for Kenya with Levy Kibet and Benson Kiplangat in hunt for gold. The biggest threat for Kenya was the dreaded Ethiopian pair of Tedese Worku and Adisu Yihune. Just as it was predicted, the two Ethiopians dictated pace just as it was in Wednesday’s 3000m and Worku was always threatening to break away from the rest of the pack. Good tactics and teamwork by Team Kenya however carried the day as Kiplangat and Kibet made sure that Worku was kept in check.
The trio would exchange leads to the last 150m and it was Kiplangat who decided to break away from the rest of the pack, to cross the finish line ten metres ahead of Worku. Kibet had to settle for bronze.
Half an hour later, it was the ladies turn to make Kenya shine and this time they did it in style. Japan-based Muthoni and Jemutai made sure that they kept Mleknet Wudu and Ugandan Priscah Chesang in check. Anytime Wudu tried bursting from the outside, she was kept in check and this was the tactic until the last bend when Muthoni decided to take matters into her own hands, leaving Jemutai and Wudu to fight for silver and bronze.
In the women’s 100m final, Tina Clayton of Jamaica retained her title, winning in a personal best of 11:09 to beat Namibia’s Beatrice Masilingi (11:39). Melissa Gutschmidt settled for bronze.