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Athletes castigate Kenya team loss in steeplechase at Commonwealth Games

Xinhua,April 12, 2018 Adjust font size:

NAIROBI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Former World 3,000 steeplechase champion Milcah Chemos on Wednesday criticized Kenya's performance at the Commonwealth Games as a tragedy.

This comes after the country failed to win four of the 10 gold medals it clinched in the last Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

However, of concern to Chemos was the failure by her apprentice to stake claim to the water and hurdle race on Wednesday, which saw Jamaica's Aisha Praught stun Kenyans to claim the 3,000m steeplechase gold in Gold Coast, Australia.

Kenya's World Youth Champion Celiphine Chespol seemed to have wrapped up the race early on, but lost the steam and pace in the final lap to allow the Jamaican to beat her in the final kick to win in 9:21.

Chespol, 19, settled for second in 9:22.61 while compatriot and defending champion Purity Kirui was third for bronze in 9:25.74.

"I feel like crying. Our time will come girls. Kenya we must press on. That's our spirit. Not giving up," said Chemos in Nairobi.

Former 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop said he was not happy with the performance and with tongue-in-cheek said Kenya can dream of winning the 100m.

"If it was possible for Jamaica to win the 3,000m steeplechase at the Commonwealth Games, then dreams are valid for Kenya to ever win 100m," he said.

Kenya's hopes of winning gold at the Commonwealth Games are slowly turning into nightmare and many are pointing fingers at the low morale in the team over non-payment of their allowances and bonuses dating back to the 2012 London Olympics.

However, the country also sent a second string team to the games, which may be part of the reason behind the dismal performance so far. There are however still hope for the country to win gold in men's events, which are yet to be held.

Kenyan coaches have however warned that performance in Gold Coast is a wake-up call for Kenyan sport managers.

National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) has two years to sort out this before Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Enditem

 

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