Obiri leads Chepkirui, Chelimo into women 5000m final

Kenya's Hellen Onsando Obiri (centre) wins heat 1 in the women's 5000m at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 10, 2017. PHOTO | JEWEL SAMAD |

What you need to know:

  • Ethiopia’s World Cross Country Under-20 champion Letesenbet Gidey won the second semi-final in 14:59.34.

IN LONDON
On form Olympic 5,000m silver medallist Kenya’s Hellen Obiri laid her case for the World Record when she easily won her 5,000m heat on Thursday evening to storm the final.

Obiri, the 2013 World 1,500m bronze medallist, and World 5,000m champion Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia exchanged leads in the last 1,400m before the Kenyan eased off to victory in 14 minutes and 56.70 seconds.

From left: Kenya's Hellen Onsando Obiri, US athlete Shannon Rowbury, Japan's Ayuko Suzuki and New Zealand's Camille Buscomb compete in the women's 5000m at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 10, 2017. PHOTO | GLYN KIRK | AFP

Kenya’s Africa 5,000m champion Sheila Chepkirui finished sixth in a personal best of 14:57.58 in the first semi-final to qualify among the best losers what with African Games 5,000m champion Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi settling fifth in the second semi-final in 15:00.39 to also qualify.

Kenya will now have a full team of three in the 5,000m final due Sunday.

Ayana, who is fresh from winning the 10,000m World title and is in line for a double at the World Championships, came in second in 14:57.06 followed by compatriot Senbere Teferi in 14:57.23 to also qualify.

Obiri hit the front passing the 3,000m mark in 9:20.00, before Ayana and Teferi took charge to hit the 3,200m in 9:54.00 respectively. Obiri and Ayana went shoulder to shoulder but it’s the Kenyan who led at 4,000m in 12:12.40.

Kenya's Hellen Onsando Obiri and Ethiopia's Almaz Ayana (right) compete in the women's 5000m at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 10, 2017. PHOTO | KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV | AFP

Ethiopia's Almaz Ayana and Kenya's Hellen Onsando Obiri (right) lead heat 1 in the women's 5000m at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 10, 2017. PHOTO | JEWEL SAMAD | AFP

Ayana briefly led with 200m to go but Obiri’s sprightly legs proved supreme at the home straight, overtaking the Ethiopian, who is also the Olympic 10,000m champion, to win.

“It was easy albeit slow pace,” said Obiri, the 2012 World Indoor 3,000m champion. “I will go for a faster pace in the final if I am to break the World record.”

Obiri said she is in better shape this year because she concentrated on training for the 5,000m race only unlike last year when she won silver at Rio Olympics.

“I spiced up my training with 1,500m and One Mile races to test my speed. I am happy with my last 400m last kick,” said Obiri, who hopes to break the world record of 14:11.15 set by Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba in Oslo on June 6, 2008.

Obiri has a personal best of 14:18.37 set in Rome with victory on June 8 this year. It was also a National Record, erasing Vivian Cheruiyot’s time of14:20.87 achieved in July 2011 in Stockholm.

Ethiopia’s World Cross Country Under-20 champion Letesenbet Gidey won the second semi-final in 14:59.34.

"I am happy to qualify but I have work on my endurance the last 300m," said Chelimo, who is making her debut at the World Championships.

From left: Kenya's Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi, Norway's Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal and Britain's Eilish Mccolgan compete in the women's 5000m at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 10, 2017. PHOTO | JEWEL SAMAD | AFP