Wayne Lumbasi
Kenya’s 11-year dominance in the men’s 1500m at the World Athletics Championships has come to an end, as did the 3,000m steeplechase early Wednesday morning. Kenya’s champions,Timothy Cheruiyot, finished sixth in 3:30.69, followed by Abel Kipsang in 3:31.21.
Jake Wightman of Nottinghamshire won Britain’s first gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon. The 28-year-old won the 1500m in 3:29.23 seconds, beating out Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Spain’s Mohamed Katir. It is by far his greatest achievement, having previously won European and Commonwealth bronze and finishing 10th at last year’s Olympics in Tokyo.
Kenya led from the start, with Ingebrigtsen settling in five back with an outside line at Hayward Field. With two laps to go, the Norwegian overtook Kipsang and reigning world champion Timothy Cheruiyot as the pack split into single file. At the start of the final lap, Ingebrigtsen, the two Kenyans, and the British pair of Tokyo bronze medalists Josh Kerr and Wightman took the lead.
Kenyans were hoping that the two would try to emulate Faith Kipyegon’s stunning gold-medal-winning performance on day four of the world championship.
The United States leads with 18 medals, including six gold, five silver, and seven bronze. Kenya finished third in the medal standings with six medals, including one gold, three silver, and two bronze. Ethiopia is the runner-up, with three gold and three silver medals.
