Kiyeng stars in Eldoret meet
Hyvine Kiyeng (left) and Lydia Rotich clear the final hurdle in women’s 3,000m steeplechase final during a past race. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- Kiyeng clocked 4 minutes and 18.3 seconds to triumph, beating Meruem Akelag (4:20.0) as Kenya-born Yasemin Can of Turkey, who is the 2016 European 10,000m and 5,000m champion, came in third in 4:21.9.
Olympic 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Hyvin Kiyeng turned on the style to win the women's 1500m race as the fourth leg of Athletics Kenya Track and Field Meeting ended on Saturday at the University of Eldoret.
Kiyeng clocked 4 minutes and 18.3 seconds to triumph, beating Meruem Akelag (4:20.0) as Kenya-born Yasemin Can of Turkey, who is the 2016 European 10,000m and 5,000m champion, came in third in 4:21.9.
Kiyeng, who settled for bronze in 3,000m steeplechase at the London World Championships last year, is preparing for the Africa Championships due August in Assaba, Nigeria.
The 2017 Africa junior 1,500m silver medallist, Boaz Kiprugut, ruled in the men’s 1,500m, timing 3:44.6 to triumph.
Kiprugut edged out 2014 World Relay 4x800m gold medallist Sammy Kirongo to second in 3:45.1 as Kenya’s representative in 5,000m at the 2017 World Championships Cyrus Rutto, claimed the last podium place in 3:46.3.
Africa Under-20 800m champion Solomon Lekuta and Josephine Kiprop were untouchable in men and women’s 800m race finals.
Lekuta, who is warming up for the World Under-20 Championships due July 10-15 in Tampere, Finland, stopped the clocked at 1:47.4 to edged out Kipng’etich Ng’eno in closely contested final.
Ng’eno timed 1:47.7 as Jonah Kiprop coming in third in 1:48.5.
Kiprop ease home in 2:07.8, beating Kiyeng’s younger sister Judy, to second in 2:07.8 as Vivian Chelangat followed in 2:09.2. Judy represented Kenya in 1,500m at London World Championships last year, reaching the semis.
Laban Chepkwony beat 800m specialist Jeremiah Mutai in the men’s 400m final, clocking 47.6 against 48.1. Gabriel Nkuka timed 48.4 for third.
Hesbon Ochieng clocked 21.1 to win men’s 200m final with Joseph Onduto and Stephen Kariuki taking second and third places in 21.5 and 21.6 respectively.
Dorothy Obiri won the women’s race in 26.0, edging out Nelly Chepchirchir and Sheila Jelagat in 26.3 and 26.5 respectively.
Onduto would then atone for his defeat in 200m with victory in 100m, timing 10.5, beating Ochieng to second place in 10.7. Michael Ngugi posted 11.3 for third.
Joan Jepkemoi won women’s 3,000m battle in 9:45.8 while Isaac Yego went for the men’s honours in 8:55.5.
