World champion Sum, Jepkosgei march on
Eunice Jepkoech Sum competes in the heats of the women's 800m athletics event at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 30, 2014. PHOTO | ADRIAN DENNIS | AFP
What you need to know:
- It was a gun-to-tape performance by Sum, who clocked 2:02.36, beating Katie Kirk (2:03.00) from Northern Ireland 2:03.00 and Australian Brittany McGowan (2:03.08).
- Jepkosgei came home in 2:05.37 behind Jessica Smith (Canada) 2:05.66 and Winnie Nanyondo (Uganda) 2:05.29.
- Sum, 26, said she will have to talk to her coach Claudio Berardelli and Jepkosgei on how to handle the semis and final.
World champion Eunice Sum opted to remain guided by her Commonwealth Games gold target at the Hampden Park as she led her mentor Janeth Jepksogei through to women’s 800m semi-finals.
It was a gun-to-tape performance by Sum, who clocked 2:02.36, beating Katie Kirk (2:03.00) from Northern Ireland and Australian Brittany McGowan (2:03.08) in the fourth heat of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
SIGN OFF IN STYLE
Yearning to sign off in style in what is her last Club Games appearance, Jepkosgei, who won the 2006 Melbourne title before going for the World crown in 2007 Osaka, only but sneaked through, finishing third in her heat.
Jepkosgei came home in 2:05.37 behind Jessica Smith (Canada) 2:05.66 and Winnie Nanyondo (Uganda) 2:05.29.
Another Kenyan, Agatha Jeruto failed to make the semis after finishing fifth in 2:04.64 in the heat that was won my Jennifer Meadows (England) 2:02.53.
“I just can’t start talking about the final when the real battle could be in the semi-finals. It can also be anybody’s race in the final,” said Sum. “It was a bit windy but the race was fine for me.”
NEW TARGET
However, Sum, 26, said she will have to talk to her coach Claudio Berardelli and Jepkosgei on how to handle the semis and final. “We have been training together and I believe that togetherness will work out well for us even though Jeruto couldn’t make it,” said Sum, who wants to lower her personal best of 1:57.38 she posted with her victory at the World Championships.
“I want to try a sub 1:56 before thinking of something else,” said Sum.
Jepkosgei, 30, said she didn’t expect to finish third but hopes to run well in the semi-finals of this year’s Games. “I didn’t run well owing to a windy track. My body didn’t respond well especially in the second lap,” said Jepkosgei. “But I hope to add my last silverware from these games to my collections God willing.”
“I have been there and seen it but the journey has just started for Sum and Jeruto,” said Jepkosgei, who won silver in 800m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Earlier on, Kenyan sprinter Boniface Mucheru made it to the 400m hurdles final after finishing second in his semi-final heat.
National record holder Carvin Nkanata clocked 20.65 to qualify for Thursday's semi-finals of the men’s 200m after finishing second in his heat.
