Swift Hyvin Kiyeng sparkles in Beijing

What you need to know:

  • Kiyeng overcomes tough challenge to retain the gold won by Chemos at the Moscow Worlds
  • Nyambura started racing as a pace setter for Kiyeng before going for the finishing line in the Diamong Leagues first event in Doha this year. Since then she has been a regular runner in the series.

IN BEIJING

Hyvin Kiyeng was over the moon after winning the women’s 3,000m steeplechase gold at the 2015 World Athletics Championships on Wednesday.

Kiyeng won in 9:19.11, beating Tunisia’s Habiba Ghribi in 9:19.24 and Germany’s Gesa Felisitas in 9:19.25. The gold bring Kenya win at the 15th championships to six. The country has three silver and two bronze.

“I had better barrier clearance than the opponents and that’s how I managed to beat them at the last barrier. She now inherits the world title that was held by Milcah Chemos from the 2013 Championships in Moscow.

The win was a sweet achievement for Kiyeng who for sometime now has been battling with battle clearance, a challenge that saw him finish sixth in Moscow behind Chemos.

“Chemos has been encouraging me to practice more and also urged me on when I left home to travel to Beijing,” she said.

Ethiopia’s bronzed medallist from Moscow Sofia Assefa who was among the favouries in the absence of Chmos and silver medalist Lydia Chepkurui. The Ethiopian finished fourth in 9:20.01.

Kenya's Julius Yego reacts during the final of the men's javelin throw athletics event at the 2015 IAAF World Championships at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium in Beijing on August 26, 2015. PHOTO | PEDRO UGARTE | AFP

The other Kenyans in the race, Virginia Nyambura who is leading in the Diamond League was seventh in 9:26.21 and Rosefline Chepngetich last in 9:46.08.

Nyambura said: “I have done my best but it was not my day and I believe my day will come.

“I am going to pursue my Diamond League title by building on the 15 points I have. I still need four more points to be sure of the title,” she said.

Nyambura started racing as a pace setter for Kiyeng before going for the finishing line in the Diamong Leagues first event in Doha this year. Since then she has been a regular runner in the series.