Four Kenyans cruise to 5,000m final in Beijing
From left: Kenya's Irene Chepet Cheptai, Ethiopia's Genzebe Dibaba and Kenya's Mercy Cherono compete in a heat of the women's 5000 metres athletics event at the 2015 IAAF World Championships at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium in Beijing on August 27, 2015. PHOTO | PEDRO UGARTE | AFP
What you need to know:
- Mercy Cherono, Irene Cheptai, Janet Kisa and Viola Kibiwott all made it to Sunday’s final at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium.
- Kibiwott said Ayana upped the speed in the latter part of the race but she did not want to go with her.
IN BEIJING
Four Kenyan athletes on Thursday booked a place in the women’s 5,000m final at the World Championships in Beijing, China.
Mercy Cherono, Irene Cheptai, Janet Kisa and Viola Kibiwott all made it to Sunday’s final at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium.
Cherono, who won silver at the 2013 Moscow Worlds, came home second in her heat won by Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba.
“Apart from her (Dibaba) I am the other favourite,” said Cherono after the race.
Cherono clocked 15:20.94 to finish behind the Ethiopian in heat one of the distance. Dibaba timed 15:20.82. Cheptai was fourth in 15:21.03 to join colleagues Kisa and Kibiwott in the final.
Kibiwott and Kisa ran in the second heat where they finished third and fourth in 15:15.27 and 15:26.49 respectively behind Ethiopians Almaz Ayana (15:09.40) and Senbere Teferi (15:14.57).
Dibaba, who is enjoying a rich vein of form that saw her set a new world record in 1500m (3:50.07) in the Monaco Diamond League in July, will be looking for her second gold at the championships, after winning to the 1500m on Tuesday.
Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes have filled the top four places in the women’s 5000m at the World Championships for the past 10 years, and that looks set to continue here in Beijing.
Kibiwott said Ayana upped the speed in the latter part of the race but she did not want to go with her.
“I did not want to put too much effort at this stage,” the Kenyan, who was fourth in Moscow said.
Kibiwott, who is aiming to make a podium finish in the final, said they anticipate a fast race in the final but they’ll be ready for the challenge on Sunday.
