Kenya’s world-beaters sweep aside rivals to claim top honours

Bydgoszcz, Poland

Faith Chepng’etich proved her might yesterday when she retained her World Cross country Championships junior women’s 6km title in a stunning gun-to-tape  performance before declaring her intentions for the World 1,500m title.

While Kenya could have lost the junior men’s 8km title, little-known Leonard Barsaton, who is based in Japan, won silver on his debut for Kenya and declared that the best is yet to be seen from him.

The Kenyans controlled the junior women’s race, with Agnes Jebet claiming silver as Caroline Chepkoech and Rosefline Chepng’etich finishing fourth and seventh respectively for the team title to also remain in Kenya.

Chepngetich, who returned to Bydgoszc after a fourth place finish in 2010, took the field through the first lap in the snowy, hilly and muddy conditions.

The Form Two student at Winners Girls, who also holds the World Junior 1,500m title, was joined by Jebet as the two stormed past the 4km mark and the final lap to completely cut-off  Ethiopia’s Alemitu Heroye who settled for bronze.

Chepng’etich descended the last hill like an antelope to clock 17 minutes and 51 seconds, followed by Jebet in a photo finish. Heroye time 17:57.
Tough conditions

“The conditions were tough for everyone but I felt stronger,” Chepng’etich said. “I communicated with Jebet and I told her we were still strong. I told her that we should wait for the final climb before going for it.”

“I still felt strong despite the adverse weather and the support from Jebet was amazing,” explained Chepng’etich, who can now look behind and reflect on her chequered junior career.

“ I can’t believe this is my second victory but glory be to God since I really prayed for him to provide and he never disappointed,” said the 19-year-old  Chepng’etich adding that the refined training in Mount Kenya helped a great deal in their individual and team victory.

 “I now want to focus on track in 1,500m then look forward to win the senior race in two years and then the 2016 Olympics Games,” said the athlete from Bomet, who embraced athletis n 2009 while at Township Primary school in Keringet. She trains under coach Charles Ngeno.

“We planned never to see an Ethiopian  and it really work as we pushed them back,” said the Jebet, theclass eight pupil at Al Busienei Primary School. “It’s good to win silver after another similar exploits at the Africa Cross last year,” said Jebet, who collected bronze in 5,000m at the World Junior Championships. Jebet come from a family that has completely embraced athletics with her seven of her siblings in competitive running.

Things looked tough for Kenyan junior men after Barsaton was left alone with two laps to go to tackle the hungry Ethiopians as favourite Hagos Gebrhiwet ruled the roast. The Ethiopian , who clocked a World junior indoor 3000m record of 7:32.87 before running World junior 5000m record of 12:47.53 at the Diamond League meeting in Paris before reaching the finals over the same distance at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The Ethiopian ideally ran a tactical race, only opting to breath behind Barsoton’s neck. He would then launch his tackle when ascending the last hill to descend with easy for victory in 21:04 followed by the Kenyan in 21:08 as another Ethiopian Edris Muktar won bronze in 21:13.

The 2011 World Youth 2,000m steeplechase and the World Junior 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto was the next Kenyan in fifth place 21:40 as Ronald Kwemoi and Michael Bett finish ninth and 10th as Kenya lost on team title.

“It feels great to win silver on debut. I have only one message, prepare to see the reign of Barsoton since this is just but the start,” said Barsoton, who left the country last year for Japan.

“It was just tough and my legs could hold it anymore. I just could move because they were all frozen, “ said Kipruto.

Results: Senior women: 1. Emily Chebet (KEN) 24min 24sec, 2. Hiwot Ayalew (ETH) 24:27, 3. Belaynesh Oljira (ETH) 24:33

Senior men: 1. Japhet Korir (KEN) 32:45, 2. Imane Merga (ETH) 32:51, 3. Teklemariam Medhin (ERI) 32:54. Junior women: 1. Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon (KEN) 17:51, 2. Agnes Jebet Tirop (KEN) 17:51, 3. Alemitu Heroye (ETH) 17:57. Junior men: 1. Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH) 21:04, 2. Leonard Barsoton (KEN) 21:08, 3. Muktar Edris (ETH) 21:13.