Vivian Cheruiyot, Ezekiel Kemboi on top of the world

Kenya’s Vivian “Pocket Rocket” Cheruiyot reclaimed the World 10,000m title when she clocked 31 minutes and 41.31 seconds to give Kenya its first victory at the Bird’s Nest in Beijing, China, on Monday.

Cheruiyot, who won both the 5,000m and the 10,000m World titles during the 2011 Championships in Daegu, failed to defend her titles in the 2013 Moscow Worlds after taking a maternity leave.

After staying behind for the better part of the race, Cheruiyot hit the front with 300m to go to win as Ethiopian Gelete Burka, who chased in vain, settled for silver in 31:41.77. Emily Infeld (US) closed strong for bronze in 31:43.49.

Moments later, Ezekiel Kemboi made history when he became the first athlete to win four consecutive world 3,000m steeplechase titles, guiding his compatriots to a 1-4 sweep at the World Championships in Beijing on Monday.

In a display of great artistry, Kemboi took a devastating burst with less than 300m to go, scaling the barriers in style to win in 8 minutes 11.28 seconds, a performance that brought the Bird’s Nest Stadium to its feet.

It was Kenya’s second victory at the championships.

HISTORIC SHOW

The victories catapulted Kenya to the top of the medal standing on the close of day three action with two gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

Kemboi left Conseslus Kipruto settling for silver for the second time in 2:12.38 in a repeat of the 2013 Moscow Worlds.

The 2008 Beijing Olympic champion, Brimin Kipruto (8:12.54), got bronze as Diamond League champion Jairus Birech (8:12.62) closed the top four vanguard for Kenya in a historic show.

Kemboi had previously won gold in 2009 (Berlin) 2011 (Daegu) and 2013 (Moscow) to equal his mentor and coach Moses Kiptanui’s record of three wins.

Kemboi launched his chequered steeplechase career with silver in the 2003 (Paris), 2005 (Helsinki) and 2007 (Osaka) World Championships.

Kemboi has had a good run at the Olympics, winning gold in 2004 Athens and 2012 London Olympics after finishing seventh at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Cheruiyot won the Kenyan World trials to give Kenyans hopes of a medal in the 10,000m race after the 2013 World silver medallist Gladys Cherono failed to take part in the trials.

Cheruiyot guided Sally Kipyego and Linet Masai to a historic podium sweep in 10,000m in the 2011 Daegu Championships just before retaining her 5,000m in a 1-2 combination with compatriot Sylvia Jebiwott in a 1-2 finish in 5,000m.

RECORD SHATTERED

Geoffrey Kamworor and Paul Tanui won silver and bronze for Kenya in the men’s 10,000m on the opening day of the Championships on Saturday.

Earlier on Monday morning, Kenyan champion Joyce Sakari obliterated her previous national record mark by 0.43 to ease through to the semi-finals of the 400m.

Also to qualify was former Kenyan 400m champion Maureen Jelagat, but compatriot Jacinta Shikanda failed in her bid.

Jamaican champion Christine Day might have claimed victory by virtue of her seeding merited in heat three, but the main talking point at the Bird’s Nest Stadium was Sakari’s record-breaking feat for the third time in 50.71 seconds.

Sakari had improved her national record when she reclaimed her national one-lap race title, clocking 51.14 on July 11 this year.

It is Sakari who had equalled Ruth Waithera’s 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games national record time of 51.56 in 2009 in Abuja, Nigeria, before shattering it at the nationals.

Sakari finished strongly down the home stretch to close to within 0.13 of Day to suggest she has more to come.

Zambian national record holder and former international footballer Kabange Mupopo took third in 51.55 to also qualify for the semis.

BEST LOSERS

Jelagat clocked a personal best 51.40 to finish fourth in heat two, but it was enough to see her qualify among the best losers.

The winner of the heat was defending world champion Christine Ohuruogu of Britain who was returning to the scene of her Olympic triumph in seven years. Ohuruogu finished with her trademark late charge to take the victory in her heat in 51.01.

Shikanda was disqualified in heat five, won by Bianca Razor of Romania in 50.37.

Three-time former world 200m champion Allyson Felix, who is hunting for a first world 400m title, could not have looked any easier running 50.60 to win her first-round heat.

Kenya was also on course for the women’s 3,000m steeplechase glory when Africa Games champion Hyvin Kiyeng won her third heat in 9:26.19 as she guided compatriots Virginia Nyambura and Rosefline Chepng’etich in qualifying for the final.

Chepng’etich returned a personal best 9:25.91 to finish third in the heat where Tunisia’s world leader Habiba Ghribi, the Olympic silver medallist, won in 9:24.38 for the best mark in the heats. German Gesa Felicitas Krause finished second in the second-fastest time in the heats of 9:24.92.

Nyambura finished second in 9:28.50 behind Ayalew, who was the comfortable winner in 9:25 as USA’s Stephanie Garcia took the third position in 9:29.34.

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