LONDON: Asbel Kiprop failed in his bid for a fourth consecutive 1,500 metres gold medal at the World Championships yesterday – but Kenya still celebrated a dazzling one-two with new champion Elijah Manangoi leading home his friend Timothy Cheruiyot.
Manangoi, the fastest man in the world this year, sped past his young training partner on the home straight of the last individual track event to take the title in 3 minutes 33.61 seconds, just ahead of Cheruiyot (3:33.99).
Kiprop, who had briefly threatened to make it a Kenyan clean sweep, found the pace too hot on the last lap, fading into ninth place in 3:37.24.
It was a fairly tame attempt to emulate the four straight metric mile world golds of Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj from the enigmatic 28-year-old Kiprop, who had one of his off-days.
Norway’s European champion Filip Ingebrigtsen snatched the bronze, throwing himself across the line to just oust Spain’s Adel Mechaal for the medal by 0.18 seconds in 3:34.53.
Manangoi’s first major title had come with a little help from the master Kiprop, from whom he reckoned he had learned so much over the years.
Two years ago in Beijing, Manangoi had burst through from fifth to second over the last 20 metres to take the silver behind Kiprop.
Yet after a barren Olympic year in 2016 when he suffered from illness and injury, the 24-year-old looked rejuvenated this year, coming into the championships off the back of a fine win in the Monaco Diamond League meeting.
“We have had very good champions in the event over the years so it is a proud moment for me to win this title for my country,” he said.
Yet though he may not have realised it, for all of Kenya’s rich background in the event, only Manangoi and Kiprop have won the world metric mile title for their country. The Kenyan-born Bernard Lagat won for the USA in 2007.
Wondeful
“I knew I was in pretty good form and thought I could make the podium but to win this gold is wonderful,” added Manangoi.
Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago denied United States a seventh successive world 4x400 metres relay title when they won a breathtaking final.
The US led for most of the race until Lalonde Gordon ran a superb final lap for the Caribbean islands to overhaul Fred Kerley on the home straight and give Trinidad their first world title in this event.
Martyn Rooney put up a brave chase for Britain but was unable to haul in the leading pair and the hosts took bronze. Trinidad’s time of 2:58.12 was the fastest this year.
Jamaica and Bahamas, Olympic silver and bronze medallists respectively in Rio de Janeiro last year, both failed to qualify for the final as did Botswana, another of the favourites.
But the US, the Olympic champions, reclaimed their women’s 4x400m relay world title as Jamaica suffered more injury heartbreak.
Jamaica had been in the lead, but American Allyson Felix surged clear of the field to open up a 15-metre gap in a superb split of 48.7 seconds.
Team mates Shakima Wimbley and individual 400m champion Phyllis Francis duly extended the gap to win gold in a world leading time of 3 minutes 19.02 seconds.
Felix enhanced her record as the most decorated athlete in World Championships history by winning her 11th gold to equal Bolt’s haul. It was her 16th medal overall.
Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim secured the global high jump title his talent has promised for so long when he completed a faultless series, culminating in a winning leap of 2.35 metres.
Double Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic eased her way to a second world discus title after being the only athlete to throw over 70 metres.
Obiri wins women’s 5,000m gold; Final medal tally – Page 30