Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot was in a class of his own when he produced a sensational performance on Thursday, August 4, to win Kenya's second gold medal at the 2022 World Under 20 championship that is currently underway in Santiago de Cali, Colombia.
Kipkorir outpaced the other competitors in the 1,500m race to ensure Kenya defends the world title won by Vincent Kibet Keter at the 2020 delayed edition held at the Kasarani Stadium.
The Nyahururu-based athlete waited until the final 200m before turning on the nut. He opened a five meters gap between him and the second placed runner to cross the finishing line in 3:35.83.
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Ermias Girma of Ethiopia took silver in 3:37.24 ahead of Kenya’s Daniel Kimaiyo who clocked 3:37.42. Kimaiyo gave his all to outpace Ethiopia’s Adihana Kasaye who clocked 3:38.10 at the homestretch.
Kenya currently tops the medal standings with two gold medals. The first gold medal came courtesy of Betty Chelangat in the 3,000m race held earlier this week. Chelangat clocked 9:01.03 ahead of East African compatriots Tsiyon Abebe and Nancy Cherop.
In other races, Jamaica’s Tina Clayton broke the 100m championship record in impressive fashion, crossing the finishing line in 10.95 to successfully defend the title she won in Nairobi.
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United States’ Roisin Wills won the 800m women’s race in a championship record of 1:59.13, in a race in which Kenya's Nelly Chepchirchir failed to make it to the podium after she clocked 2:01.42 to finish fourth. The silver and bronze medals went to Audrey Werro and Juliette Whittaker respectively.
Elkanah Kiprotich failed to progress to the 400m final after he clocked 48.03 to finish 8th. However, Kenya still has a chance of winning a 400m gold at the championship after Damaris Mutunga made it to the final.
Mutunga crossed the finishing line in 52.29 behind Great Britain’s Yemi John and Canada’s Ella Clayton. Slyvia Chelangat, who won bronze last year, came a distant 8th.
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