Kenya’s [link id=”250″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Edna Ngeringwony Kiplagat”] won the women’s marathon Gold medal on Saturday at the 14th [link id=”144″ tax=”post_tag” text=”IAAF World Championship”]s in Athletics being held in [link id=”238″ tax=”am_venues” text=”Moscow”], Russia.
The 33-year-old, who led home a clean Kenyan podium sweep in the event in Daegu 2011, made history as the first woman ever to land back-to-back marathon titles in World Championships
Up against a hot and humid temperatures over 28 degrees Celsius, the Kenyan reigning World champion overcame a neck-and-neck battle with Italian national record holder Valeria Straneo with 2 km left, bursting ahead to finish with a time of 2:25:44 hours.
The Italian Straneo, 37, took the lead as soon as the runners left the Big Sports Arena and held on till the 40km mark. She ran 5 km in 17:05, 10 km – in 34:12. 20 km – in 1:09:02. She clocked 1:12:58 for the half-marathon, 1:26:36 for 25 km, 1:44:00 for 30 km and 2:01:15 for 35 km.
Straneo, who was 7th at the London 2012 Olympics, unexpectedly finished with the silver clocking 2:25:58 with Kayoko Fukushi from Japan third in 2:27:45.
With the exception of Kiplagat, there were no Kenyans and Ethiopians in the top-10.
“I am delighted I was able to defend my title successfully,” said Kiplagat.
“The time of the race is unusual, because I am used to run most of my races in the morning. So during my preparation I tried to adjust my training to the time.
“I got confident I was going to win at 40km, when I started to increase my pace. I dedicate my victory to my husband for letting me have enough time to train,” she added.
Jeilan lost to Farah
Ethiopian [link id=”252″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Ibrahim Jeilan”] lost his World title in the men’s 10,000m to the reigning Olympic Champion, Mohammed Farah of Great Britain.
The Somalia-born Briton increased the pace drastically over the last two laps and managed to hold off Jeilan in the home straight to win gold in a season’s best time of 27:21.71.
Jeilan settled for the silver medal in a season’s best time of 27:22.23 while Kenyan youngster Paul Tanui took the bronse medal in 27:22.61.
“I’m happy with my silver medal,” says Jeilan. “My preparation for the World Championships was the same as two years ago.”
“But with 2 weeks to go until the race I got ill and had to miss three days of training, basically two main training sessions. I believe that’s why I lost gold. I don’t do any special preparation for the finishing spurt, but I have the speed for it.
“I enjoyed my first time in Russia, it is an interesting country, and everything was just perfect – the food, the hotel, the transportation, the conditions”.
On his part, Paul Tanui said: “It is a great happiness that I feel inside of me. I have never performed like this before. It was a tough race.
“I have never run a tough race like this. I am very satisfied with my performance. Never before have I had a medal. I congratulate myself. I am full of happiness.”
Kenya dominated the women’s 3000m steeplechase qualifying races with [link id=”206″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Milcah Chemos Cheywa “]and Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi clocking 9:36.16 and 9:36.19 respectively.
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