Chemos is the steeple queen as Kenya wins first ever world title

Kenya’s Milcah Chemos finally realised her dream to give the country its first major women’s 3,000m steeplechase title at the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow on Tuesday night.

The 27-year-old, who won bronze at the 2009 Berlin and 2011 Daegu Worlds, battled well with Lydia Chepkurui, to complete a 1-2 sweep.

Chemos clocked a world leading time of nine minutes 11.65 to triumph with Chepkurui, 29, getting the silver in 9:12.55. Efforts for a clean podium sweep failed when Hyvin Kiyeng finished sixth in 9:22.05.

Chemos, who hails from Mount Elgon, dedicated her gold to her late grandmother, who passed away on the eve of the national team’s departure for the championships, and her daughter, seven-year-old Lavine Jemutai Sang.

“My grandmother was one of the closest people to me since I began leaving with her in 1997. In fact, she was buried on Saturday just as I was winning my semi-final heat. I am sure she is smiling from wherever she is,” she said.

Chemos, who performed a jig after gliding to victory, said she was inspired by a call from her daughter two hours before the race.

“I just remembered my daughter Levine who said I should go home with the gold medal and the championships mascot she saw winners being given.”

Chemos said they had planned on how to control the race with a fast pace, and it worked.

“I wanted only one person in front of me in the first 1000m from where I would take charge. I vowed nobody would overtake me in the last lap,” said Chemos. “That worked well with good team work with Chepkurui.”

Russian pulled out

Chemos rued the absence of Russian Yuliya Zarudneva Zaripova, who was the defending champion. The Russian, who also won gold at the London Olympics, was knocked out with an injury.

“I knew she was bad news but it’s unfortunate she succumbed to an injury. I believe we would have done sub 9:10,” said Chemos, who is now focusing on retaining her Diamond League Series title come the Brussels leg later this month.

“I will then focus on defending the world title in 2015 in Beijing before taking a short at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games,” said Chemos, who is married to her fellow athlete, Alex Sang.

“This is the greatest day in my athletics career. It feels fine to win my first championship medal and thanks to Chemos who has mentored me well from heptathlon,” said Chepkurui.

“We worked on our speed and how we would control the race between the three kilometres.”

In the 1,500m, Kenya’s Faith Chepng’etich, Helen Obiri and Nancy Jebet Lagat when they qualified for Thursday’s final.

Chepng’etich, the World Junior 1500m champion and the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medalist Jebet were the first to qualify after they ran a highly tactical from the outward lane before going inside in the last lap.