In Eugene,Oregon,USA
It was tough luck for four Kenyans in action on the penultimate day of the World Athletics U20 Championships as they missed out on podium positions on Sunday at Hayward Field in Oregon, USA.
Collins Tajewou and Nahashon Pkiach finished 5th and 6th in the 800m Men’s final, clocking 1:48.50 and 1:49.49 respectively.
Despite sprinting from the gun and finishing, Uganda’s sensation Shafeck Murungi, who clocked 49 seconds in the first lap, ran out of energy in the final bend with Iman Bouchajda of Morocco capitalizing on it to claim gold in 1:44.64, while Daniel Williams from Australia and Alejandro Rios of Spain, completed the podium places with a silver and bronze respectively.
It was a similar tale in the Women’s 3000m as African Youth Games bronze medalist in 2000m steeplechase Mercy Mageso, the best-placed Kenyan, finished 6th with her compatriot Faith Rono finishing a distant 19th, while Ethiopians Yordanos Tsigab and Fito Gumi boxed in 5000M World champion Charity Cherop of Uganda to claim gold and silver in that order.
Cherop took bronze, her 2nd medal, barely two days since winning the 5000m title.
Kenyans will aim to conclude the championship on a high note as they will be competing in three events on Sunday.
Emmanuel Lemiso, also the Africa U20 champion, and Nicholas Kitum Losiwareng will be dashing also in the 3000m Steeplechase final.
David Kapaiko and Wilson Chepkwech will be competing in the 1500m final.
African U20 champion Caren Chepchirchir will partner with Josephine Sembeyo inthe 1500m final, starting the last Kenyan event on the track.
Ahead of the final events, Kenya is tied 4th with China on 1 gold and 2 silver medals.
Hosts USA leads with 8 gold, six silver, and 4 bronze medals, followed by Italy with 3 gold and 2 bronze medals.
