Asbel Kiprop made it very difficult for himself but eventually came through to win the men’s 1500m on the penultimate day of the 2015 world athletics championships. Kiprop placed himself at the back of the pack for the first half of the race. At the start of the final lap, Kiprop was still boxed in at the very back. He only started to make his move with 250m to go. Algerian Tariq Makhloufi had what looked like a strong lead just as he did at the 2012 Olympics. But Kiprop utilized his long legs to close the gap and managed to pass both Maklhloufi and Moroccan Abdilaati Iguider with 50m to go. Newcomer Elijah Manangoi also had a strong finish coming from way back to finish second barely beating Iguider to complete a Kenya 1-2 finish. In 2011, this race also ended in a Kenya 1-2 finish with Kiprop and Silas Kiplagat winning gold and silver.

The win by Kiprop clinched Kenya’s place at the top of the medal table, marking the first time Kenya has accomplished this feat.

It was a fitting win for Kiprop who has dominated the 1500m in the Diamond League circuit winning using a variety of tactics from front running, to staying behind the back and also suddenly changing pace. Kiprop has proven that he  is unbeatable at this event in 2015. In fact coming into the 2015 world championships, Kiprop was Kenya’s best bet for a medal.

Kiprop becomes the third runner to win this event three times following Nourredine Morceli of Algeria and Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco. Kiprop is easily the most succesful 1500m runner in Kenya’s history and has the second fastest time by a Kenyan after Bernard Lagat.

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Race Results