Rains spoil the party for Kenya athletics team

Flomena Cheyech Daniel breaks the tape to win the women’s marathon at the Glasgow City Marathon Course during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday. Flomena led teammate Caroline Kilel in a one-two victory.

What you need to know:

  • Shelly, who won silver at the 2010 Delhi Games, came from seven places behind to zoom to victory in a personal best of 2:11:15.
  • “Rains… rains…rains…rains…that is it!” mourned Chemlany. “I just couldn’t carry my legs after 35kms and could only walk as Shelly zoomed past. It’s very disappointing.”

It was supposed to be Kenya’s marathon team crowing moment. It turned out to be a shocker as the men were defeated due to what they said were rainy conditions.

For five kilometres to the end of the 40 km marathon, Australian Michael Shelly overtook Kenya’s Stephen Chemlany to win what analysts had considered the country’s race to lose.

Shelly, who won silver at the 2010 Delhi Games, came from seven places behind to zoom to victory in a personal best of 2:11:15.

Chemlany settled for silver after clocking 2:11:58.

Defending champion John Kelai and Eric Ndiema sunk to fifth and sixth places, managing 2:12:41 and 2:13: 44 respectively. The performance of the team mirrors that of the 2012 London Olympics and 2013 World Championships. And just like the Olympics, the rains jinx once again came to haunt Kenyan athletes.

Couldn’t carry my legs

“Rains… rains…rains…rains…that is it!” mourned Chemlany. “I just couldn’t carry my legs after 35kms and could only walk as Shelly zoomed past. It’s very disappointing.”

Chemlany said all was well until it started to drizzle as the race progressed. “It was a good battle with the Ugandans until the rains started. My legs felt heavy in the last few kilometres,” said Chemlany. “I am used to dry conditions and not this kind of weather.”

Kelai also blamed the wet conditions. “It’s sad to lose this title but I thank God for the second opportunity since it’s not easy,” said Kelai, the second Kenyan to win the “Club” Games marathon title after Douglas Wakiihuri at the 1990 Auckland Games.

The 37-year-old Kelai, the winner of the 2003 Singapore, 2004 Brussels and 2006 Mumbai Marathon, said he is not done yet. “ I still have few more years before I call it quits.”

At first, the race seemed as if it was Kenya’s to lose. A pack of 10 athletes including Kenyans and their Uganda rivals Abraham Kiplimo, Solomon Mutai and Philip Kiplimo looked stronger with Fabiano Naasi from Tanzania in the midst.

It is until the last seven kilometres that Shelley broke out and overtook the East Africans, to the cheers of his hometown Gold Coast.