Conseslus Kipruto breaks Olympic record, Faith bags another gold for Kenya

What you need to know:

  • Faith Chepng’etich threw the country into celebrations, early Wednesday when she stunned World champion and record holder Genzebe Dibaba.
  • Consenslus Kipruto gave the country its 11th title at the Rio Olympic Games after breaking the Olympic record by two seconds.
  • Kipruto’s feat was Kenya’s ninth consecutive victory in steeplechase at the Olympics.

Kenya on Wednesday bagged two more gold medals, reaffirming its dominance in long distance track.

Faith Chepng’etich threw the country into celebrations, early Wednesday when she stunned World champion and record holder Genzebe Dibaba from Ethiopia, claiming women’s 1,500m gold, the second at the distance after Jebet Lagat’s victory at 2008 Beijing Games.

This was followed later in the day with yet another gold in men’s 3,000m steeplechase when Consenslus Kipruto gave the country its 11th title at the Rio Olympic Games.

Kipruto, 21, who has played second fiddle many times including winning silver medals at the 2013 and 2015 World Championships, finally had his moments when he won the title in 8 minutes and 03.28 seconds, breaking the Olympic record by two seconds.

Kipruto’s feat was Kenya’s ninth consecutive victory in steeplechase at the Olympics.

He smashed Julius Kariuki’s Olympic record of 8:05.51 set at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

American Evan Jager curtailed what could have been a 1-2 feat for Kenya just like Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad in 2008 Beijing and 2012 London when he went for silver in 8:04.28.

Defending champion Ezekiel Kemboi, 34, who was targeting a hat trick after victories in 2004 Athens and 2012 London Olympics, had to settle for bronze 8:08.47 despite having shaved his head to symbolise gold.

“I feel good after a career of 18 years and competing in my fourth Olympics. I’ve done my level best and I just want to say that today I’m officially retiring from athletics,” Kemboi told journalists after the race.

“The race was okay but my body failed to respond. I just felt tired,” said Kemboi, the Olympics champion 12 years ago in Athens. It was the fourth gold medal for Kenya at the Rio Games.

Consenslus Kipruto gave the country its 11th title at the Rio Olympic Games after upstage Ezekiel Kemboi who won bronze at men's 3000m steeplechase in Rio. PHOTO | AFP

Jemimah Sumgong gave Kenya its first marathon title on Sunday before David Rudisha retained his men’s 800m title on Tuesday morning.

Kenya has collected a total of eight medals; four gold, three  silver and one bronze, to move to the top of the medal standing in athletics.

Paul Tanui and Hyvin Kiyeng won silver medals in men’s 10,000m and women’s 3,000m steeplechase.

It’s Amos Biwott, who started Kenya’s reign in steeplechase when he won the country its first Olympic gold at the 1968 Mexico City. Biwott’s victory has stayed unique from the rest since he did so by leaping over the water jump without putting his foot on top of the barrier.

True to her word after qualifying for the final, Chepng’etich delivered the “something special” that she had promised with a winning time of 4:08.92 ahead of Ethiopia’s World champion Dibaba who settled for silver in 4:10.27.

“I didn’t believe I could win but I thank God for helping me to win here in Rio.  It’s my first Olympics and I’m so excited,” Chepng’etich said.

The bronze medal went to the strong-finishing Jennifer Simpson of the United States who clocked 4:10.92.

Britain's Mo Farah (left) leads the pack in round one of the men's 5000m at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 17, 2016. AFP PHOTO

SHOCKING FAILURE

Earlier, there was a shocker after Kenyans failed to qualify for the men’s 5,000m final for the first time since the 1960 Rome Olympics.

However, World 800m silver medallist Eunice Sum, the 2014 World Junior 800m champion Margaret Nyairera and Winny Chebet qualified for women’s 800m due for Friday dawn.

World 5,000m silver medallist Caleb Mwangangi, who was among favourites to reach the medal bracket, was a major casualty after he finished fifth in 13:26.63 in a slow first semi-final.

Charles Muneria, who finished second in 10,000m at the Kenyan trials but moved to 5,000m, settled a distant 12th in the semi in 13:30.95.

The 2013 World 5,000m bronze medalist Isaiah Kiplangat failed to qualify after he finished 12th in the second semi-final heat clocking 13:25.15. Kenya settled for bronze medal in 5,000m at the 2012 London courtesy of Thomas Longosiwa.

Olympic and World 5,000m champion Mohammed Farah from Great Britain settled third in 13:25.25 after taking a fall early in the race.

Kenyan born Paul Chelimo from the USA won the second semi-final in 13:19.54. Ethiopians Muktar Edris and Dejen Gebremeskel claimed second and third places in 13:19.65 and 13:19.67 to storm the final due on Saturday.

Nyairera finished second in the third heat in 1:59.66 as Selina Buchel won in 1:59.00 while Sum, who is also the 2013 World 800m champion won her fifth heat in 1:59.83.

Chebet clocked 2:01.65  for second place in heat seven that went to Jozwik Joanna from Poland in 2:01.58