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World champ Kiyeng easily wins steeplechase title
What you need to know:
- Manangoi, Mutai set up mouth-watering duel in men’s 800m
- Cherotich won her women’s 800m semi race in 2:05.1 while Nalianya clocked 2:10.6 to finish second.
- Kiprop clocked the fastest time of the day (3:45.5) in the metric mile race, beating Abraham Kiplagat 3:45.7 as Josephat Kithii wound third in 3:46.4 to all qualify.
- Chepseba romped home in 3:46.8, beating Collins Cheboi 3:47.1 and Geoffrey Rono 3:47.4.
World 3,000m steeplechase champion Hyvin Kiyeng on Friday won the Kenya Police Service Athletics Championships women’s 3,000m steeplechase title at Kasarani.
The riveting action on the second day of the championships also saw World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop, Nixon Chepseba and Abednego Chesebe ease through to men’s 1,500m final after winning their respectively semi-finals.
The 2014 Commonwealth 5,000m silver medallist, Janet Kisa, Africa Games 5,000m champion Margaret Chelimo and Mary Kuria won respective semis to set up an interesting women’s 1,500m final.
World 1,500m silver medallist Elijah Manangoi, Jeremiah Mutai and Timothy Sein also reigned supreme in their men’s 800m races to storm the finals set for Saturday.
Emily Cherotich and Eglay Nalianya prevailed in women’s 800m races to also reach the final. World 800m bronze medallist Eunice Sum did not compete.
The women’s 3,000m steeplechase race was a three-horse battle between 2012 Africa silver medallist Kiyeng, 2010 Africa bronze medallist Lydia Rotich and 2015 Diamond League Series winner Virginia Nyambura.
But with 300 metres to go, 2014 Commonwealth champion Purity Cherotich bolted past Nyambura and Rotich but Kiyeng from Kenya Police College carried the day in 9 minutes and 36.8 seconds.
“I enjoyed the race. The warm weather made things easier for me,” said Kiyeng, who finished second in 5,000m during Athletics Kenya track and field meet in Kisii and third in 1,500m in Nakuru.
Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Cherotich, who is also the 2010 World Junior champion, finished second in 9:39.1 with Rotich sealing the podium places in 9:43.2.
KIPROP LIGHTS UP KASARANI
Nyambura came in fourth in 9:47.1 followed by 2006 World junior 3,000m steeplechase and 2007 World Youth 2,000m steeplechase gold medallist Caroline Tuigong in 9:59.9.
Kiprop clocked the fastest time of the day (3:45.5) in the metric mile race, beating Abraham Kiplagat 3:45.7 as Josephat Kithii wound third in 3:46.4 to all qualify. Chepseba romped home in 3:46.8, beating Collins Cheboi 3:47.1 and Geoffrey Rono 3:47.4.
Chesebe won his semi-final in 3:47.0, outclassing Frankline Kiplagat in 3:47.7 as Dominic Mutuku 3:48.1 finished third.
Manangoi won his semi-final in the fastest time of 1:48.3 as he relegated Cosmas Maloba to second in 1:49.7. Mutai won his semifinal in 1:49.5, beating Job Kinyor 1:49.7.
Cherotich won her women’s 800m semi race in 2:05.1 while Nalianya clocked 2:10.6 to finish second.
