Joyce Chepkirui leads Kenyan sweep in women’s 10,000m
Joyce Chepkirui (CR) celebrates winning after a sprint on the final straight as Florence Kiplagat (CL) falls over the line in an unsuccessful effort to hold onto first place in the final of the women's 10,000m at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on July 29, 2014. PHOTO | ADRIAN DENNIS
What you need to know:
- Chepkirui clocked a Personal Best time of 32:09.35 as Kiplagat, the 2009 World Cross Country champion and two-time Berlin Marathon champion, crossed the finish line in 32:09.48.
- In the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, Milcah Chemos takes to track to defend her title with a strong backing from Purity Kirui and Joan Kipkemoi.
Africa champion Joyce Chepkirui led a Kenyan 1-2-3 in the women’s 10,000m final of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Tuesday night.
Chepkirui claimed her maiden global title when she stunned favourite Florence Kiplagat in the last 10 metres to win it at Hampden Park. It was simply a show of dominance from Kenya as Emily Chebet claimed the bronze.
Chepkirui clocked a Personal Best time of 32:09.35 as Kiplagat, the 2009 World Cross Country champion and two-time Berlin Marathon champion, crossed the finish line in 32:09.48.
“We had planned as a team to take charge with only eight minutes into the race,” said Chepkirui, who finally won a major medal after failing to finish her race at the 2012 London Olympic Games. “We will have a similar plan at the Africa Championships next week in Morocco.”
In Tuesday's late event, Faith Kibiegon won gold in the women's 1,500m with a time of 4:08.94 ahead of England's Laura Weightman who took silver and Canada’s Kate van Buskirk who took bronze.
In the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, Milcah Chemos takes to track to defend her title with a strong backing from Purity Kirui and Joan Kipkemoi.
READY FOR BATTLE
Chemos, who won the World title in Moscow last year in 9:11.65 after claiming bronze at the 2009 Berlin and 2011 Daegu, is confident that they can stage a clean sweep of podium places. “We shall embrace teamwork and hopefully win all the medals. We are asking Kenyans to pray for us.”
In the women’s 800m, Eunice Sum will be hoping for a good day after losing in Monaco a fortnight ago. “I am under pressure by virtue of being the World champion,” said Sum, who settled second in Monaco with season best 1:57.92. She lost to Ajee Wilson (1:57.67) from USA. “But I am ready for the battle. I just want to focus on qualifying through the first round and semis then strategise for the final.”
Sum will be looking for support from the 2006 Melbourne Games champion Janeth Jepkosgei and Agatha Jeruto as they battle in Wednesday’s first round heats. “We have a strong team and I believe our togetherness right from the World Relays to this point should produce something,” said Sum.
