Page 31 - People Daily Newspaper

PEOPLE SPORT 31
Monday, September 20, 2021 / PEOPLE DAILY

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After successfully ruiyot who is my role model and I hope to
continue with this form next season. I still by Amos Ab uga
defending Olympic title, have a race to go before I close my season.” @PeopleDailyKe
runner says it time to go In the women’s 5,000m, silver medallist Towards the end of the Kip Keino
Margaret Chelimo took the top honours in
for new milestone the race that was classified as discretion- Classic meeting, one fan held a sign
ary. that read: “Bromell, please give me
Chelimo destroyed the field as she dom- your spikes.”
by Amos Ab uga The world’s fastest man this year
@PeopleDailyKe inated the 12-lap race clocking 14:55.27
ahead of compatriots Eva Cherono Trayvon Bromell obliged with the
Two-time Olympic 1,500m champion (15:12.16) and Lilian Kasait (15:17.71). request as he handed his race win-
Faith Kipyegon and world under- 20 “For sure I had prepared well for today’s ning spikes to Philip Gituku, the
1,500m winner Vincent Keter had a dream race. My last race was in Brussels and I am fan-cum-Kenyan athlete, as the
end to the season at the second edition of happy to wind my season with a win on second edition of the event ended
the Absa Kip Keino Classic on Saturday. home soil,” said Chelimo after the con- at the Kasarani stadium on Satur-
Kipyegon, who timed 4:02.41 to win her quest. day.
speciality event, wants to take time off af- Meanwhile, Nicholas Chirchir (50.19) That request came after Bromell
ter a rewarding season to plot to attack the and Vanice Nyagisera (59.05) notched new had pushed Kenya’s Ferdinand
world record next season. With a personal personal bests in the men’s and women’s Omanyala to break new limits with
best of 3:51.07, she feels the world record 400m hurdles. Philemon Kiplimo took vic- a blistering 9.77 run in the men’s
is achievable. tory in the men’s 10,000m when he clocked 100m race, finishing second in a
“I don’t want to speculate, but to be hon- 28:37.96 ahead of Rueben Longosiwa who world class field that had former
est, attempting the world record is some- came second in 28:38.97 as Geoffrey Kip- Olympic champion and multiple
thing I am thinking about. Mind you, for chumba placed third 28:38.99. world champion Justin Gatlin.
records you can only attack them when Olympic 200m silver medallist Christine American champion Bromell
you’re in shape,” said Kipyegon. Mboma proved too strong for her oppo- did just enough to edge the home
In the men’s race Keter graduated to nents as she stormed to victory over the hero Omanyala, winning in 9.76
senior ranks in style, clocking 3:35.99 to distance. Mboma, the world under-20 re- with his compatriot Gatlin tim-
edge out Moroccan Abdellatif Sadiki to cord holder, clocked 22.39 seconds ahead ing 10.03 to round off the top
second place in 3:36.63. Ethiopia’s Kasaye of Josee Marie Ta Lou of Ivory Coast who three places. Mouhamadou Fall of
Adehena came in third in 3:38.18. finished second in 22.98 as Aminatou Sey- France placed fourth in 10.04.
Keter said the absence of world champi- ni of Nigeria closed the podium in 23.33. Faith Kipy- Gituku said afterwards getting
on and mentor Timothy Cheruiyot made “I had already closed my season in egon leads the spikes from the world’s fastest
his work easier. Zagreb but I saw it was good for me to the way man was a huge reward for him
“It feels great to win my first major se- compete in this meet being held in Af- during the gracing the global event that at-
nior race, most importantly at home,” said rica. I think I have had a fantastic season women’s tracted the who is who in world
Keter. and hope for a better one next year,” said 1,500m race athletics.
“I want to one day achieve what Cheru- Mboma. at the Kasa- “It doesn’t matter what people
iyot has been able to accomplish and with Ta Lou said she is shifting her focus to rani stadium will say. I saw an opportunity and
his guidance, I feel like I will be able to get next season. “I was not fully fit but I think on Saturday. seized it fully,” said Gituku, who is
there,” he said. it was a good race for me especially being PD/DAVID also a General Service Unit consta-
“I think I am now ready to compete my first race in Kenya. I am now going to ble attached at the GSU headquar-
with seniors. I heeded advice from Che- prepare for next season.” ters at Allsoaps.
For an athlete, who specializes
in 200m, he cites lack of equip-
3UHVLGHQW $PLQD FKHHU XS 1. President Kenyatta congratulates Ferdinand ment and resources as the biggest
impediment to his career.
“I am a passionate athlete, but
ZRUOG EHDWHUV DW .DVDUDQL Omanyala. without the basics like spikes, I
2. President Kenyatta chats with Moroccan Soufi-
ane El Bakkali. PD/DAVID NDOLO & ALEX NJUE don’t think I am going to reach my
Some of the fans present were torn potential. I thank Bromell for giving
by Amos Abuga me these priceless spikes, I hope
@PeopleDailyKe between following the champion-
ship live on track and field or on the they will help me become a better
President Uhuru Kenyatta and two giant screens placed on either athlete,” he added.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina side of the stadium. The diehard fan of Olympics sil-
Mohamed were among the few fans Drummers positioned at the first ver medallist Fred Kerley, winner
who cheered up athletics world beat- bend spiced up the occasion with Af- of the 200m race at the Kip Keino
ers at the Kasarani Stadium on Satur- rican musical sounds. Sponsors, too, Classic said he wants to emulate
day as the second edition of the Kip were not left behind as they fought the American.
Keino Classic lived up to its billing. for space to ensure their brands were
The World Athletics Continental conspicuous, relayed and beamed
Tour event attracted a galaxy of stars across the globe.
from across the globe led by former A battery of journalists jostled for
Olympics men’s 100m champion space to interview the winners.
Justin Gatlin. Those accredited for the event had
Getting into the stadium was not a the privilege to sample sumptuous
walk in the park because of the tough meals offered by the high profile ca-
Covid-19 measures put in place by tering companies contracted at the
the Sports and Health ministries. Ev- venue.
eryone was tested before they were
allowed into the games cathedral.
The day’s highlight was when Ke-
nya’s sprinting sensation Ferdinand
Omanyala set an African record in
the men’s 100m to a standing ovation
from the President. The sprinter af-
terwards joined the Head of state at
the VIP dais.
2 1
Even though fans were advised
to use the available technology to
catch the championship wherever
they were, a few defiant ones found
themselves at Kasarani where they Paul Gituku displays Trayvon
cheered feverishly their favourite Bromell’s spikes at the Kasarani
athletes. stadium. PD/DAVID NDOLO