ATAF Editors
Kumari Taki and Celliphine Chepteek Chespol delivered two gold medals for Kenya on day three of the 9th IAAF World Youth Championships, Cali 2015 on Friday.
The 16-year-old Kenyan produced a stellar front-running performance to smash the boys’ 1500m championship record and take the gold medal in 3:36.38 in Cali.
Taki, not only trimmed 0.39 from Robert Biwott’s championship record, he also claimed Kenya’s seventh success in nine editions of the event at the IAAF World Youth championships.
Ethiopia’s Mulugeta Assefa claimed the silver medal in a personal best 3:41.10 ahead of Taki’s countryman Lawi Kosgei, who settled for the bronze medal in 3:41.33.
“It was amazing to improve my personal best and set a championship record,” said an elated Taki after the race.
“I hope to compete more on the international level. It is a wonderful success,” he added.
Kenyan sweep
Celliphine Chepteek Chespol and Sandrafelis Chebet Tuei of Kenya in action during the Girls 2000m Steeplechase final on day three of the IAAF World Youth Championships, Cali 2015 on July 17, 2015 at the Pascual Guerrero Olympic Stadium in Cali, Colombia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images for IAAF)
In the girls’ 2000m steeplechase, Celliphine Chepteek Chespol and Sandrafelis Chebet Tuei claimed a second consecutive 1-2 for Kenya at the world youth championships.
Chepteek Chespol took the gold medal in a personal best of 6:17.15 ahead of Chebet Tuei, who was second in 6:19.61, while Ethiopia’s Agrie Belachew picked up the bronze medal in 6:34.68.
After the race, Chespol, who had never competed outside of Kenya said: “This is my first big victory…It was hard, but I gave 100 percent.”
