Kenya dominates long distance while Fraser-Pryce defends women's 100m
Xinhua, August 24, 2015 Adjust font size:
The Kenyan runners proved their dominance in long distance as they took men's 3,000m steeplechase and women's 10,000m on the third matchday of the world athletics championships here on Monday.
While Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce made it another Jamaican night at Beijing's iconic Bird's Nest, sprinting to the women's 100m gold for a record-tying third time - a feat that matches teammate Usain Bolt.
Like Bolt, Fraser-Pryce came into Beijing with two Olympic and two world titles in the 100m. And after Bolt claimed his third world title on Sunday, Fraser-Pryce did likewise on Monday.
"My message always is: No matter where you are from, no matter which past you have, it's all about your future and your goals. I will always work hard and do my best," said Fraser-Pryce, who clocked 10.76 seconds for the title.
Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands claimed silver in 10.81 and American Tori Bowie got bronze in 10.86.
Kenya's Ezekiel Kemboi continued his amazing medal streak by winning a fourth consecutive world men's steeplechase gold.
The 33-year-old, a two-time Olympic champion who has also won three world silvers, timed 8 minutes 11.28 seconds for gold, holding off Kenyan teammate Conseslus Kipruto Conseslus, who claimed silver in 8:12.38.
Their Kenyan compatriot Brimin Kiprop Kipruto got bronze in 8.12.54, beating another Kenyan Jairus Kipchoge Birech to fourth place.
In a tense women's 10,000m final, star runner Vivian Cheruiyot demonstrated Kenya's supremacy in long distance again by winning the title with a last-lap surge.
Cheruiyot, who claimed the 10,000m title in Daegu in 2011 and is also a two-time world 5,000m champion, clocked 31 minutes, 41.41 seconds.
"This is my real comeback. I had many thoughts in my head during the race but I told myself I want to win, no matter how hard it is. It's even more precious now after I became a mother a year ago. I dedicate this medal to my son," said Cheruiyot.
Gelete Burka of Ethiopia, World No. 1, took silver in 31:41.77, while American Emily Infeld had bronze in 31:43.49.
Elsewhere, Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia continued her imperious form by defending the women's triple jump title.
Ibarguen won the gold by 14.90 meters in her fourth attempt to win the gold medal.
The last time Ibarguen lost was more than three years ago when she had to settle for the silver medal in the final of the London Olympics.
Since then, the Colombian has ratled off 29 straight wins, including the 2013 and 2015 world titles which were considered to be the greatest athletics moment in her country's history.
The men's pole vault gold went to Canadian Shawn Barber, who won with a clearance of 5.90 meters. Enditem