One, two, three for Kenyans

OSAKA – Kenya’s formidable 3,000 metres steeplechasers toyed with the opposition before delivering the expected clean sweep yesterday, with Olympic silver medallist Brimin Kipruto claiming gold.

The Kenyans, who had warned they would use team tactics to take the top three, tracked Sweden’s Mustafa Mohamed before breaking out at the bell with Kipruto beating Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi in the final lap. Kipruto clocked 8 minutes 13.82 seconds, some 20 seconds off the world record, with Kemboi timing 8:16.94 and third-placed Richard Mateelong, the Kenyan cross-country champion, 8:17.59.”We had a plan as a team to run together until the final 400 metres.I am so happy.It’s the first time I won a gold medal.We will celebrate tonight as a team, as a country,” said a delighted Kipruto.”When I saw I had already won, and my fellow Kenyans came in 1-2-3, I started celebrating, because my country took 1,2 and 3.”Kemboi said Kenya’s team tactics worked to perfection, and set his sights on defending his Olympic title next year.”The first two laps were very slow.We could not expect a fast time at sub 8.10 level,” he said.Nampa-AFPKipruto clocked 8 minutes 13.82 seconds, some 20 seconds off the world record, with Kemboi timing 8:16.94 and third-placed Richard Mateelong, the Kenyan cross-country champion, 8:17.59.”We had a plan as a team to run together until the final 400 metres.I am so happy.It’s the first time I won a gold medal.We will celebrate tonight as a team, as a country,” said a delighted Kipruto.”When I saw I had already won, and my fellow Kenyans came in 1-2-3, I started celebrating, because my country took 1,2 and 3.”Kemboi said Kenya’s team tactics worked to perfection, and set his sights on defending his Olympic title next year.”The first two laps were very slow.We could not expect a fast time at sub 8.10 level,” he said.Nampa-AFP