by Justin Lagat
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is on fire! 10.67a to open her season? Wow! photo by KIP KEINO CLASSIC
Justin Lagat was at the Kip Keino Classic, and attended a World Athletics conference on journalism as well. In between his busy schedule, he provided this piece for RunBlogRun.
Below is a brief break-down of what just happened on May 7th at the third edition of the Kip Keino Classic
1. Shelly-Anne Fraser Pryce ran her first race in Kenya
Fraser Pryce brought the fans at the Kasarani stadium to their feet as they cheered her running a world-leading time of 10:67 to win the women’s 100m race that began the core track events of the day. Bassant Hemida of Egypt in a new personal best time had finished second in 11.02 while Shannon Ray of USA finished third in 11.33.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, photo by KIP KEINO CLASSIC
Kenyan fans expressed a lot of love for Fraser Pryce with security almost having a hard time controlling crowds who wanted to greet her and take selfies as she left the stadium later in the evening.
2. World-leading performances happened
There were leading times in both the men’s and women’s 100m. South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso in the women’s 800m race set a surprising world-leading and personal best time of 1:58.41. Abel Kipsang ran alone in the men’s 1500m and set a world-leading 3:31.01.
The women’s 1500m race was won by Ethiopia’s Diribe Weltiji Kejelcha in a world-leading time of 4:01.50.
Norah Jeruto ran a WL in winning the steeplechase, photo by KIP KEINO CLASSIC
The women’s 3000m steeplechase race was also won in a world-leading time of 9:04.95 by Norah Jeruto of Kazakhstan.
The women’s 5000m, was won by Girmawit Gebrzihair, who ran a world-leading 14:49.97.
3. Ferdinand Omanyala endeared the crowds
Ferdinand Omanyala takes the 100m! photo by KIP KEINO CLASSIC
The men’s 100m race was the climax of the evening. Ferdinand Omanyala connected well with the crowds as the men’s 100m runners entered the stadium. It was obvious that the 100m was the most anticipated event of the evening. As he was being introduced in lane four, the whole stadium went wild screaming. Moments later, the screams became deafening and filled the air in the stadium when Omanyala crossed the finish line first in a world-leading time of 9.85. Fred Kerley of the USA finished second in a seasonal best of 9.92 ahead of countryman Isiah Young who came third in 10:13.
4. There were some major disappointments:
The highly anticipated match between Omanyala and the Olympic champion, Marcell Jacobs failed to happen after Jacobs withdrew from the race due to a stomach problem.
Marcel Jacobs came to Nairobi to race, but picked up a stomach bug, photo by KIP KEINO CLASSIC
Christine Mboma who received a lot of cheering as well from the Kenyan crowd as she was being introduced alongside Fraser Pryce, unfortunately, had to pull out of the race after a sudden injury in the last few meters in the women’s 100m race. Mboma was entered in two events and would have run again in the 200m.
