Golden day for Kenya as Mateelong leads 1-2

There is no better place to set history than home and that is what Africa champion in 3,000m steeplechase Richard Mateelong did to become the first man to successfully retain the race title in the 31-year-history of the Safaricom Senior Africa Athletics Championship.

In a race where Kenyans expected a clean sweep, there was no disappointment on Kenyan faces even after Ethiopia’s Gary Chubeta Roba spoilt the party stealing the bronze medal.

But Mateelong, who is a Police Instructor at Kiganjo Training College, was energetic to push out the opposition and with over 500m remaining he started waving to the crowd certain of the gold.

The question that remained was if World Champion Ezekiel Kemboi would withstand the late charge from Chubeta who was quickly gaining ground on him.

In the end, Mateelong secured his gold and title in 8:24.54 with Kemboi happy to pick the silver in 8:26.13 while Chebeta 8:27.15 claimed the bronze.

“I am not disappointed Kenya did not claim a clean sweep. But I am happy to have won back my gold and now the focus is on the World Cup,” said Mateelong.

Mateelong, who is also the world silver medallist, on his third attempt at the continental level, proved to be the man to beat soon as his compatriot Kemboi, the World Champion confirmed he is moving to marathon after the World Championship in Daegu, South Korea.

In Friday’s race, as expected it started on a slow pace and there was no brave athlete who wanted to push up the tempo. After the initial three laps all the seven athletes Mateelong, Kemboi, Chebeta, Nahom Mesfin (Ethiopia) and Benjamin Kiplagat (Uganda) and Abraham Cherono, were stuck together.

However, Mateelong took charge of the race and pulled away and with him followed Chubeta, Kemboi and Cherono with KIplagat, the former World Junior silver medalist in Poland in 2008, struggling to keep up pace.

With just 800m remaining, it was clear, Kenya was heading for the 1-2-3, but again Chubeta summoned his final strength to try and keep up the pace and was able to narrow the gap and eventual pass Cherono as he struggled to get Kemboi who had opened a ten metre gap with Mateelong far ahead.

Coming to the bell, Kemboi, Mateelong and Chubeta gave their final push and though the Afriac champion continued opening up the gap fort the gold, it was hard for Kemboi as he sent panic among the crowd of possibly being caught out. But Kemboi held out to claim silver.

“I was a bit tired and have been struggling to ever since I got stuck by the hammer during the Kenyan trials. But as you can see, I did my best. For the last nine years, I have toiled for this country and getting silver at home with gold to my friend Mateelong is enough,” he said.

Now with the World Cup in Split City, Croatia coming up next in September, Kemboi can relax.

Mesfen of Ethiopia was strong enough to claim the fourth slot in 8:30.25 with Kiplagat fifth in 8:32.03 ahead of Cherono 8:35.92. Uganda’s Ben Siwa was seventh in 8:39.43 edging out compatriot Simon Ayeko 8:47.90 while Ethiopia’s Legease Oyota was ninth in 8:48.06.