NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 21 – Vincent Keter clinched Kenya’s fifth gold at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships with victory in the 1500m on Saturday with Kamar Etyang disqualified for lane infringement despite finishing third.
Keter blazed the final lap before giving the homestretch a devastating finishing kick, stopping the clock in 3mins, 37.24secs with the Ethiopian duo of Wegene Addisu and Melkeneh Azize clinching silver and bronze after Etyang’s disqualification.
“I am really happy with the gold medal today. We had talked with Etyang and we had agreed to work as a team and then the best man to win. It is a good day for Kenya. I had a small injury in the middle of the race but I am thankful to God that I have made it,” said Keter, who ensured the World U20 gold medal remained with the Rongai Athletics Club, with George Manangoi having won it in Tampere, Finland in 2018.
Vincent Keter sinks to the track in celebrating his win at the World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
He added that the inspiration and motivation he picked from both Manangoi and world champion Timothy Cheruiyot inspired him to go for gold.
“They have really helped me a lot because they always advise me on how to attack the race, how to plan it and how to run efficiently. George has helped me train all through this last month when Cheruiyot was preparing for the Olympics and I believe this gold is for us all,” an excited Keter added.
Etyang suffered disqualification, the third Kenyan to suffer the lane infringement DQ. He had finished third after being in the leading pack with Keter for most of the race.
The lanky Kenyan who says he has endured difficulty to get to where he is started off strongly, his long strides galloping into the lead. Keter was ahead of him at the 400m mark as he took the pack through in a time of 1:1.01.
Kamar Etyang leads the pack ahead of Vincent Keter during the final of the 1500m at the World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
Etyang led at the bell with Keter closely behind him while Ethiopian Addisu lurked behind them, waiting for an opportune time to strike.
However, as they took the first bend, Etyang started pulling back and Addisu powered ahead of him, while Keter was flying away in the lead.
At the home stretch, Keter powered further to wade off any possible chance of the Ethiopian plucking the victory away and he crossed the line in 3:37.24, Addisu coming through second with a time of 3:37.86.
Etyang was celebrating at third but minutes after the race, the results were updated with Etyang disqualified after video review showed he had stepped outside the track at a bend.
VIncent Keter celebrates with Kamar Etyang after they both completed the 1500m race at the World U20 Championships. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
Melkeneh Azize who had timed 3:40/22 to place fourth was elevated to the bronze medal position.
