NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 20 – Jackline Chepkoech completely annihilated the field to clinch Kenya’s third gold medal at the World Under 20 Championships on Friday with victory in the women’s steeplechase.
Chepkoech lapped nearly 80pc of the field as she stopped the clock in a new Personal Best time of 9:27.28 while Compatriot Faith Cherotich came home third for bronze. Ethiopia’s Zerfe Wondemagegn came home second for silver.
“I am really delighted to have won the race and I thank God for the energy. I just felt my body was okay and I just decided to go. This means a lot to my career and it gives me motivation to continue improving as an athlete,”
“I knew everyone was strong especially the Ethiopians and I decided to push on and go,” said Chepkoech who trains with Olympic bronze medalist and former World Champion Hyvin Kiyeng in Kaptagat.
Jackline Chepkoech celebrates after winning the women’s steeplechase at teh World U20 Championships. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
Compatriot, 16-year old Cherotich said; “We had planned to take a 1-2 finish in the race. Midway through I had some pain in my foot and I just decided to hold on to finish at third spot. I am thankful to God that I at least got bronze.”
Just like her namesake, world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, Jackline did not come to play in the women’s junior steeple and she took command of the race straight from the gun.
After the first lap, she started injecting some bit of pace in the race and duly signalled Cherotich to follow suit as they looked to burn down the field early.
With two laps of going side by side and assured that her compatriot would medal, having followed her trail alongside Ethiopia’s Zerfe, Chepkoech laid down her marker.
She did the first 1500m of the race in a sizzling 4:41:38 pace. She did the next 400m in a split of 1:16.26 and didn’t look to show any signs of fatigue on her face.
Jackline Chepkoech crosses the finish line during the World Under-20 Championships. photo/Raymond Makhaya
At the bell, she had already lapped four athletes and kept on burning up the heat of the pace, not looking back or not being worried by the chase of Ethiopian Zerfe, who had managed to lose out Chepkoech.
She took on a sprint finish in the last 400m, cheered on by the small crowd at the Kasarani Stadium before crossing the finish line, and passing all the other athletes who were going for the bell.
Ethiopian Zerfe came home second in a time of 9:35.22 while compatriot Cherotich managed to clock 9:44.76.
The three medalists from the women’s steeplechase at the World U20; Faith Cherotich, Zerfe Wondemagegn and Jackline Chepkoech. PHOTO/Kelly Ayodi/World U20 LOC
