Obiri reigns supreme to defend 5K world title
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 5 – NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 5 – Hellen Obiri reigned supreme once again at the global space after successfully defending her 5000m title in a Championship Record time of 14:26.72 to lead compatriot Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi to a Kenyan1-2 finish in Doha World Championships on the penultimate day of the event.
Obiri, the Olympic silver medallist, who led for the better part of the race came home clear of Kipkemboi, who timed a personal best 14:27.49 while Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen, part of the Nike-backed Oregon Project whose head coach Alberto Salazar was banned for four years earlier in the week, took bronze in 14:28.43.
Obiri had shared the early pace setting with British runner Eilish McColgan.
Kenya’s Hellen Obiri retained her 5,000 metres world title with a new championship record
With eight laps to go Obiri stepped up the pace and McColgan dropped back — Ethiopia’s Teshay Gemechu on her shoulder and Klosterhalfen third.
They were part of a six runner group who, with six laps to the finish, had dropped the rest of the field.
Gemechu dropped away to the back of the sextet leaving Klosterhalfen in second spot followed by two Kenyans.
The six stuck together as the race approached the business end of the event.
Hellen Obiri after her 5000m victory at the IAAF World Championships Doha 2019 (Getty Images) © Copyright
As they heard the bell it was the German against three Kenyans.
Obiri went for broke and upped the pace but Klosterhalfen stuck to her task and for a moment threatened to spring a shock.
However, Obiri had more than enough in the locker to stretch her lead rounding the curve and it was Kipkemboi who finished the strongest passing Klosterhalfen in the straight.
