Yego spears and pens history as Kenya tops track and field

When Julius Yego was left out of the 2006 World Junior Championships squad despite having qualified, the youngster cried at the Nyayo National Stadium.

The tears were however not in vain as they watered a seed that would produce a legend eight years later.

Yego has been hitting the headlines as the man who refined his trade via YouTube and, on Saturday night, the 49,000-seater Hampden Park erupted with joy when the ‘YouTube Man’ beat opponents with superior training facilities to grab the gold.

And he did it in style, barely breaking a sweat. Yego finished the job in his third throw of 83.87m. Heshorn Walcott from Trinidad and Tobago and Australia Hamish Peacock had to battle to their last sixth throws but all was in vain. They finished on 82.67 and 81.75 respectively.

Yego’s gold medal that wrapped up the athletics programme at the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow brought Kenya’s medal haul to 25; 10 gold, 10 silver and five bronze.

The country was placed ninth behind continental rivals South Africa (12-10-17) and Nigeria (11-11-11) in seventh and eighth places respectively.

“I now feel like a legend, just like my role model Kipchoge Keino, who made history here four decades ago,” said the 24-year-old police officer, who defied a groin injury sustained at the warm-up area to spear his way to history books.

“I know I am a now legend back home having won this in field to join the leagues of Keino on track,” said Yego, who became the first Kenyan to claim victory in field events at the “Club” Games. “I feel great, it feels great!” The only other medallist in field events from the “Club” Games was John Mayaka, who won bronze at the 1974 Games.

Kopchoge Keino won two medals from the 1970 Edinburgh Games; gold in 1,5000m and bronze in 5,000m.

Yego said he had been training for the games. “I have the All Africa Games and Africa Championship titles but this is so sentimental to me as it’s my maiden global victory,” he said.

Yego, who is looking forward to defending his Africa title in Morocco, next week, shaped up to the championships in style.

The beefy 2011 All Africa Games champion posted his best ever performance in the Diamond League, finishing second in Oslo in June. Yego’s last throw was magical as he ploughed season’s best 84.17m to finish behind training mate and the 2007 Osaka World Championships gold medallist, Tero Pitkämäki of Finland.

Pitkämäki, who won silver at the 2013 Moscow World Championships where Yego missed the podium by a whisker, finished fourth with a national record throw of 85.40. At the Moscow Championship, Yego improved his national record with a throw of 85.40 to settle fourth.

GROIN INJURY

“However, it wasn’t easy for me since I came into the final with a groin injury that I picked at the warm up area. I almost withdrew and that is why I couldn’t push myself further with the rains making it difficult,” said Yego. “I could have easily improved on my personal best but I just wanted to be safe with the paining groin.”

Interestingly, it was at the 2010 Delhi Games where Yego made his major international debut finishing seventh in 69.60. “I have made a steady rise and I thank God for his blessings. the sky is the limit for me,” said Yego.

At the Africa Championships, Yego will be facing the likes of former Africa champion Ihab Abdelrahman from Egypt, who currently leads the Diamond League series, posting a World lead, Africa Record and Meet Record throw of 89.21 in Shanghai in May.

Kenya finished the Games at the top of the Athletics table with 25 medals including 10 golds, 10 silvers and 5 bronze.

“Our mission was just to get those medals for Kenya. Hopefully we will get all the medals at the African championships,” said Mercy Cherono, who won gold in the women’s 5,000m.

James Magut, who won gold in the men’s 1,500m, said: “I am really happy with today’s success. I always have that finish in the last 100m.”