Hyvin Kiyeng bags Kenya's 6th gold in Beijing
Kenya's Hyvin Kiyeng celebrates after winning the final of the women's 3000 metres steeplechase athletics event at the 2015 IAAF World Championships at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium in Beijing on August 26, 2015. PHOTO | OLIVIER MORIN |
What you need to know:
- Kiyeng, the 2012 Africa bronze medallist, staged a powerful charge at homestretch beating Tunisian Habiba Ghribi to silver in 9:19.24 as Felicistas Krause got bronze 9:19.25.
- Chemos handed Kenya its maiden world title in Moscow in 9:11.65 as compatriot Lydia Chepkurui settled for silver in 9:12.55.
African Games champion Hyvin Kiyeng won Kenya its sixth gold medal at the World Championships when she blew away the 3,000m steeplechase field in 9 minutes 19.11 seconds on Wednesday.
Hyvin Kiyeng, the 2012 Africa bronze medallist, staged a powerful charge at the homestretch to beat Tunisian Habiba Ghribi to silver in 9:19.24 as Felicistas Krause bagged bronze in 9:19.25.
Two other Kenyans, Virginia Nyambura (9:26.21) and Rosefline Chepng’etich (9:46.08), finished seventh and 15th, respectively.
It was a great victory for Kiyeng, who was making her second appearance at the Worlds after she was placed sixth with a personal best of 9:22.05 at the 2013 Moscow Worlds.
Kiyeng, 23, won the Kenyan World Championships trials in the absence of World champion Milcah Chemos, who is recovering from a back injury.
Chemos handed Kenya its maiden world title in 2013 Moscow in 9:11.65 as compatriot Lydia Chepkurui settled for silver in 9:12.55.
Kiyeng has been in good form this season, improving her personal best by almost seven seconds when she won in Rome in a meeting record 9:15.08 on June 4, defeating both Nyambura and Ethiopian Hiwot Ayalew. Kiyeng finished second to Ghribi in Monaco, but improved her personal best to 9:12.51 on July 17 this year.
