by Alfonz Juck
Geoffrey Kamworor defends his senior men’s title, photo: Roger Sedres (c)/IAAF
Kamworor defended, Kenya dominated
KAMPALA (UGA, Mar 26): Kenya won both senior titles with Irene Cheptai and defender Geoffrey Kamworor. Emotional leader in men race Joshua Cheptegei initialized early festivities among fans, but faded and was happy to finish. But Uganda still got its first ever gold medal, in junior boys race Jacob Kiplimo was the best. Kenya won first mixed relay and Gidey defended her U20 girls gold medal. The race was staged on former airport grounds with grass and in hot weather. First ever IAAF Championships in Uganda. Discussions about future of this event to be held in 2019 in Aarhus, Denmark will continue.
Event by event
Mixed relay: Led off by Asbel Kiprop, Kenya took a gun-to-tape win in the inaugural mixed relay in 22:22 from Ethiopia (22:30) and Turkey (22:37). Genzebe Dibaba tried during last leg, but the margin was too big.
Junior women: Reigning champion Letesenbet Gidey easily defended her 6km title in 18:34 from teammate Hawi Feysa (18:57) and Kenya’s Celliphine Chespol (19:02). Team: ETH 19, KEN 20, UGA 63.
Junior men: Jacob Kiplimo was a hugely popular winner over 8km, winning Uganda’s first ever gold medal at the World XC Championships in 22:40 from Ethiopia’s Amdework Walelegn (22:43) and Kenya’s Richard Yator (22:52). Team: ETH 17, KEN 28, ERI 55.
Senior women: Kenyan trials winner Irene Cheptai led her country to a sweep of the top six places. She covered the 10km course in 31:57 ahead of Alice Aprot (32:01) and Lilian Kasait (32:11). Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon finished sixth in 32:49 with Olympic 3000m steeplechase champion Ruth Jebet from Bahrain seventh in the same time. Team: KEN 10, ETH 45, BRN 59.
Senior men: Joshua Cheptegei looked poised to claim victory on home soil but fell apart in the last 800m, fading back to 30th in 30:08. Geoffrey Kamworor became the first runner to defend his title since Kenenisa Bekele in 2006 10 km in 28:24 ahead of teammate Leonard Barsoton (28:36) with Ethiopia’s Abadi Hadis bronze (28:43). Team: ETH 21, KEN 22, UGA 72.
Medals: Kenya 4-5-3, Ethiopia 4-4-1, Uganda 1-0-2, Turkey, Bahrain and Eritrea 0-0-1.
Europe: The best individual result was in women race by Trihas Gebre as 19th. Best team result was the bronze of Turkey in mixed relay followed with 7th place of Spain in women race.
