NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 22 – Emmanuel Wanyonyi ran a new Championship Record of 1:43.76, cruising to victory in the men’s 800m at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani on Sunday.
Wanyonyi put up a devastating final kick to go past Algeria’s Mohamed Ali Gouaned who settled for silver while compatriot Noah Kibet finished third.
“This race had a lot of pressure and that is why I ran that kind of time. I knew there was no way I was going to lose this title and even when I felt my body tiring, the little adrenaline I had left in me pushed me to the finish line,” Wanyonyi said after the race.
He added; “It didn’t go as planned because our tactic with Noah was to go out to the front from the start. However, I was tripped as we headed out into the second 200m and that is why I slowed down a bit. But all in all, I am thankful I won gold.”
Kibet and Wanyonyi bolted to the leading pack straight from gun off with the Algerian lurking behind them like a scavenger.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi cruises to victory in the men’s 800m at the World U20 Championships in Nairobi. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
At the bell, it was Kibet who was in the lead, Wanyonyi second while the Algerian was perched right behind them.
However, Kibet started to fade off just after the first bend with Gouaned blazing past him to come to second.
Upfront, Wanyonyi who trains in Janeth Jepkosgei’s camp was not letting go of the lead. He instead put on the afterburners, sizzling his pace to cross the finish line first.
Gouaned ran a new Algerian Under-20 record to finish second for silver while Kibet was third in a new personal best time of 1min, 44.88secs.
Meanwhile, Purity Chepkirui clinched Kenya’s seventh gold at the Championships as she cruised to victory in the women’s 1500m, running 2:50.71 after holding off a late surge from Ethiopian Diribe Welteji.
Compatriot Winnie Jemutai came home third for bronze in a time of 2:52.66 as Kenya took its medal haul at the event to 13, surpassing the mark of 11 won at the last Championships in Finland three years ago, with more medal events lined up.
Purity Chepkirui and Winnie Jemutai celebrate after winning gold and bronze in the 1500m at the World U20 Championships. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
“This was my first time ever to represent Kenya and I am really proud to have won. It was a very tough race especially at the end when the Ethiopian started to push, but I was determined to win gold and I couldn’t let go,” Chepkirui said after the race.
At the bell, the race was a four-way battle with Chepkirui and Jemutai first and second while Ethiopia’s Welteji and compatriot Hiwot Mehari trailed behind them.
But Chepkirui slowly started opening up the gap as they headed to the final 300m of the race, with Jumutai dropping off while Welteji pressed into second.
The Ethiopian increased the pace as she tried to catch up with the Kenyan, but she held her own to ensure the gold medal spot was well secured.
Welteji was second in 4mins, 16.39secs while Jemutai was third in 4mins, 18.99secs.
