NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 18 – Kenya’s hopes of a medal in the mixed relays event at the World Athletics Under 20 Championships have been dashed after the team was disqualified in the second heat for lane infringement.
Elkanah Kiprotich had battled to see Kenya finish second behind Nigeria with a powered run in the anchor leg and were assured of a place in the final.
However, a review by the Hawk Eye cameras penalised and disqualified the Kenyan team for lane infringement.
Kenya’s team also had Sylvia Chelangat, Loice Morara and Kennedy Kimeu.
Despite the disappointment of the disqualification in the mixed relays, the duo of Chelangat and Kimeu managed to qualify for the semi-final of the individual 400m events after both finished second in their heats.
Chelangat ran a new Personal Best time of 53.49 to finish second in heat two behind Nigeria’s Nse Uko who clocked 52.33.
Kenya’s Sylvia Chelangat in action during the World Under-20 Championships. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
The Kenyan youngster dug in deep into her energy reserves in the final 50m of the race to power home in second, managing to just dip beyond the line ahead of India’s Priya Mohan who timed 53.79 and also managed a ticket to the semis as one of the best six non-automatic qualifiers.
“I really feel happy because I have run my personal best time here today. I have always run a time of 55secs but today I managed to break that and I am so delighted. For me, if the competition is tough, I always manage to do very well and I believe I will run even faster in the semis,” said Chelangat, speaking to Capital Sports after the race.
Sykvia Chelangat with Bermuda’s Caitlyn Bobb after completing her race. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
She added; “I was really disappointed and heartbroken after we were disqualified in the mixed relays but I used that as motivation heading into my individual event that it was the only thing I was left with and I had to do my best.”
Meanwhile, compatriot Kimeu ran a carbon copy of Chelangat’s race in finishing second in his heat. The Kenyan ran a season’s best time of 47:05secs behind South Africa’s Lithe Pillay.
Elsewhere, Kiprotich however could not make it into the semis after finishing third in his heat despite running a new Personal Best time.
The Kenyan clocked 46.79 to finish third behind South Africa’s Antoine Nortje while Anthony Pesela of Botswana won the race in a new Personal best time of 45.88secs.
“It was disappointing to get disqualified in the mixed relays and that has really discouraged us. It affected me going into the race,” said Kiprotich.
Elkanah Kiprotich reacts after finishing third in his heat at the World Under-20s 400m . PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
At the same time, none of the Kenyan sprinters managed to make it to the semis. Sylvester Simiyu finished fifth in the men’s 100m despite clocking a new Personal Best time of 10.66secs.
In the women’s race, Mercy Chebet also set a new Personal Best time of 12.39secs, but could only finish seventh in her heat.
In the shot put, Dominic Kiprotich finished bottom of his qualification group with a best throw of 13.80m
