Chepngetich grabs steeplechase gold in Youth Olympics

Rosefline Chepng’etich during the 2,000 metres women’s steeplechase National Youths trials at Nyayo Stadium on May 8. Chepngetich won gold in the 2,000m steeplechase in the Youth Olympics in China on August 25, 2014. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Amos Kirui and Winfred Mbithe each claimed a silver in the men’s 2000m steeplechase and women’s 1,500m races respectively, to push team Kenya’s position on the overall table standings to joint seventh alongside Japan.
  • Tesfaye managed an impressive 4:15.38, ahead of Mbithe who crossed the line in 4:17.91. Dalila Abdulkadir Gosa’s 4:18.36 posting was enough to hand the Bahranian a gold medal.

Rosefline Chepngetich Monday bagged gold in the 2000m steeplechase race as Kenya improved her medal tally by three medals to five, at the Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China.

But Ethiopia are still the best African team at the competition thus far and second overall, having amassed an extra gold and three more medals than Kenya heading on the penultimate day of the track and field games.

Amos Kirui and Winfred Mbithe each claimed a silver in the men’s 2000m steeplechase and women’s 1,500m races respectively, to push team Kenya’s position on the overall table standings to joint seventh alongside Japan.

The two nations have each scooped two gold, two silver and a bronze medals.

Chepngetich’s 6 minutes, 22.07 seconds finishing time was nowhere near the 17 year old personal best but it proved enough to earn Kenya’s second gold at the competition, with Ethiopia’s Zwedenesh Mamo who posted 6:26.02 and Hungary’s Lili Anna Toth who finished the race in 6:31.92 coming home second and third respectively.

Earlier Mbithe failed to match Kokebe Tesfaye’s finishing kick on the home stretch thereby allowing the Ethiopian to collect gold with a better time of two seconds in the 1500m race.

KIRUI WON SILVER

Tesfaye managed an impressive 4:15.38, ahead of Mbithe who crossed the line in 4:17.91. Dalila Abdulkadir Gosa’s 4:18.36 posting was enough to hand the Bahranian a gold medal.

Kenya’s final medal of the day was won by Amos Kirui in a tactical 2000m race when he claimed the silver in a time of 5:40.29, beating Morroco’s Hicham Chemlal (5:40.94) to the tape, in a race won by Ethiopia’s Wegebe Sebsibe who clocked 5:38.42.