Kenya: Changeiywo Picks 10,000 Meter Gold At Military Games

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

William Njuguna

22 July 2011

Doris Changeiywo led a Kenyan 1-2 in the 10,000m at the world military games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Wednesday.

Changeiywo demolished a strong field to clock 30:19.16 with Lineth Chepkurui settling for silver in 30:25.16. They were followed by Bahrain’s Jasmin Salah in 33:45:34. Rwanda’s Claudette Mukasa finished fourth, timed at 34:40.8.

The sweltering heat made conditions difficult for the athletes with Salah surging to the lead on the third lap and running a steady time for the next five laps with Changeiywo and Chepkurui second and third followed by Mukasa. At the halfway point Chepkurui took the lead leaving Salah in third position as the three broke away from the pack, opening a sizeable gap.

Changeiywo then passed Chepkurui in the 18th lap but Chepkurui attacked in the next and the two ran side by side before Changeiywo pulled away on the 24th lap. Chepkurui failed to respond. Changeiywo’s gold medal was Kenya’s second of the championships. “I’m delighted to win the race,” Changeiywo said.

Hellen Obiru who stunned Olympic 1,500m champion Nancy Jebet Lagat at the national trials last weekend at Nyayo clinched bronze in the 800m. She clocked 2:01.86 in a race won by Maryana Arzamasava from Belarus who timed 2:01.39 ahead of Margarita Matsko of Kazakshtan who clocked 2:01.83. Jane Jelagat, the other Kenyan in the race was seventh in 2:06.98. In the men’s category, Jackson Kivuva and Geoffrey Matum qualified for the final. Kivuva was second in the first heat clocking 1:49.81 behind Brazil’s Lutimar Paes who had 1:49.69.

Matum qualified by virtue of being one of the fastest finishers despite finishing fourth on 1:47.29. Menjo Kiprono and Kiplimo Kimutai are through to the 10,000m final. Kiprono was second in his heat timing 29:58.35 while Kiplimo was second in his heat in 29:47.94.

With Agencies

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