Kenya finally got its first gold medals of the 2014 IAAF world junior championships. The medals came on the 3rd day of the event.
Margaret Nyairera Wambui upsets fancied Cuban
Margaret Wambui came out of virtual anonymity to run the race of her life in winning the 800 metres at the IAAF world junior championships. She broke her personal best by three seconds which she had set in her semi-final, as she won over two laps of the track in an African youth best of 2:00.49.
Prior to the championship, Sahily Diago of Cuba was seen as the hot favourite due to her brilliant performance in the IAAF Diamond league. However it was the previously unknown 17-year-old Wambui who sprinted away from the Cuban Cuba’s. Wambui attacked with 70 metres left to claim Kenya’s fourth junior title in the women’s 800m but the first one in 12 years.
Jonathan Kiplimo Sawe bags gold in the 1500m
Jonathan Kiplimo Sawe continued Kenya’s strong tradition in this event when he bagged Kenya’s second gold medal of the evening. He powered away from compatriot and defending champion Hillary Cheruiyot Ngetich in the final 100m of the men’s 1500m to win in 3:40.02.
Ngetich,finished third in 3:41.61after being passed by Djibouti’s Abdi Waiss Mouhyadin in the final few metres, as the latter got the silver in 3:41.38.
Lilian Rengeruk takes silver in the 3000m
Lilian Rengeruk, who had won gold at the 2013 world youth championships, settled for silver this time in the women’s 3000m. The winner was American phenom Mary Cain who fed off the thunderous home ground support to run away from the Kenyan duo of Rengeruk and Valentina Chepkwemoi Mateiko.
Go to Kenya Athletics Page |
