Crowd favourite Eunice Sum has been missing in action and inconsistent for the better part of the last four years, leaving fans wondering about her whereabouts and her form.
Sum first made a name for herself when she finished second at the 2012 African Championships behind Francine Niyonsaba. The following year, she shocked the world, winning the gold medal at the world championships. In the process she beat a strong field that included favourite Maria Savinova of Russia, a runner who would later be implicated in a doping scandal. She instantly became a house-hold name all over the country.
However her form begun to dip. In 2015, she settled for Bronze at the world championships. Then at the Olympics in 2016, she did not make the final. She qualified for the 2017 world championships but withdrew due to injuries. And at the 2018 African championships, her comeback attem,pt fell flat as she did not make the final.
However she is on her way back to the top if her results from Thursday are anything to go by. At the Weltklasse Diamond League race on Zurich, she won the women’s 800m in a time of 2:00.40. The time is not earth shaking. But a win in a Diamond League race is important for Sum. Her lack of performance in the past 4 years has largely been due to factors such as injuries, lack of confidence and lack of motivation due to IAAF issues. With her confidence and motivation back, Sum could be a contender for a medal at the Doha world championships and the 2020 Olympics. The country needs her as there is a distinct lack of Kenyan performers at this event.
Results
| POS | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | MARK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eunice Jepkoech Sum | KEN | 2:00.40 |
| 2 | Kate Grace | USA | 2:00.66 |
| 3 | Hedda Hynne | NOR | 2:00.79 |
| 4 | Anna Sabat | POL | 2:01.21 |
| 5 | Selina Büchel | SUI | 2:01.32 |
| 6 | Lore Hoffmann | SUI | 2:02.22 |
| 7 | Ellie Baker | GBR | 2:02.79 |
| 8 | Selina Fehler | SUI | 2:05.75 |
| 9 | Valentina Rosamilia | SUI | 2:05.78 |
| 10 | Joanna Jóźwik | POL | 2:06.89 |
Chepkoech leads Kenya sweep
Beatrice Chepkoech was once again in imperious form as she led a Kenyan 1-2-3-4 sweep in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2019 Weltklasse Diamond League meet in Zurich.
The Kenyan men steeplechasers may be struggling and are in danger of losing their stranglehold on this event. But the women are more than making up for it. Especially Chepkoech who once again put on a dominant display to beat a world class field.
Caroline Tuigong was once again on hand to perform a superb pacing job, setting the table for the Kenyan quartet to run impressive times and finish well ahead of the field.
Results
| POS | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | MARK | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beatrice Chepkoech | KEN | 9:01.71 | 8 |
| 2 | Hyvin Kiyeng | KEN | 9:03.83 | 7 |
| 3 | Norah Jeruto | KEN | 9:05.15 | 6 |
| 4 | Daisy Jepkemei | KEN | 9:06.66 | 5 |
| 5 | Gesa Felicitas Krause | GER | 9:07.51 | 4 |
| 6 | Emma Coburn | USA | 9:10.01 | 3 |
| 7 | Winfred Mutile Yavi | BRN | 9:14.84 | 2 |
| 8 | Celliphine Chespol | KEN | 9:20.04 | 1 |
| 9 | Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal | NOR | 9:20.69 | |
| 10 | Mercy Chepkurui | KEN | 9:29.61 | |
| 11 | Maruša Mišmaš | SLO | 9:53.49 | |
| Geneviève Lalonde | CAN | DNF | ||
| Caroline Tuigong | KEN | DNF |
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