Janeth Jepkosgei Celebrates Her Win
Kenya’s Janeth Jepkosgei celebrates with the national flag after she won the gold medal in the Women’s 800m final during the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan, on Tuesday. Picture by AP
In a superb display of front-running, Janeth Jepkosgei won Kenya’s first women’s 800 metres global title. Janeth led from start to finish — and won in 1 minute, 56.04 seconds, with Morocco’s Hasna Benhassi getting silver in 1:56.99 and Spain’s Mayte Martinez third in 1:57.62.
“This medal is important for Kenya and for me,” Jepkosgei told reporters. “This is the first medal for middle distance where we don’t have many runners….said Janeth.
“It’s a challenge to my fellow Kenyans to do more at middle distance and not just concentrate on long distances.” ….added Janeth.
Maria Mutola of Mozambique was looking for her fourth world title but her first since 2003. The 2000 Olympic champion tripped up and stopped about 70 meters from the finish after her late challenge faded.
Defending champion Zulia Calatayud of Cuba was eliminated in the semifinals.
Women’s 800m Final - World Championships, Osaka - Japan
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Comments: Kenya’s World Games Athletic team, which was billed as one of the weakest ever, is proving everyone wrong — so far they have bagged a total of 7 medals (3 GOLD 1 SILVER 3 BRONZE), and are positioned in third place, in the overall medals table, just behind the United States and Russia.
I am also proud to note that Kenyan girls seem to be getting better and better, every year — and will some day equal the storied glory of their male counterparts — For example, in Osaka, Japan, other than Janeth’s superb win, the Kenyan ladies are closing the gap in the women’s Steeplechase too.
Ereng’s girl realises her coach’s burning ambition
By Omulo Okoth
The newly-crowned world 800m women’s champion Janeth Jepksogei was a creation of 1988 Seoul Olympic champion Paul Ereng.
It was Ereng who discovered her six years ago and groomed her to run the two-lap race. At that time Ereng was the technical director of the Kip Keino High Altitude Training Centre in Eldoret. | Kip Keino — Most Famous Kenyan Runner Ever |
Within months of horning her talents, Jepkosgei won the African Junior title in Mauritius. The following year, she won world junior title in Kingston, Janaica, in 2002.
“I knew this girl was destined for greater things. But I want her to win an Olympic title,” Ereng, now cross-country head coach at the University of Texas at El Paso, said on Tuesday.
Ereng was so convinced of the realisation of this ambition that even last year’s victories at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and African Championships in Mauritius were to him not good enough.
Steeplechasers had a field day
Jepkosgei has earned her place in the global sporting world. It was clear that Mozambican Maria de Lurdes Mutola was not going anywhere.
I feel sorry for her though for dropping out after realising she stood no chance. Mutola stayed around for too long. One must, however, appreciate staying power at the top for close to two decades.
She first appeared on the global scene in 1988 in Seoul Games and has won all there is to be won, including a $1m Golden Jackpot three years ago!
Our steeplechasers had a field day, too, thanks in part to the absence of Qatar’s Seif Saaeed Shaheen.
The last time they swept the medals was in Athens Olympics in 2004 where Ezekiel Kemboi won gold and Brimin Kipruto the silver.
They swapped the medals on Tuesday. But are we seeing the last of Kemboi, who lost to rookie Willy Komen at last month’s All Africa Games? Only time will tell.
Some More Great Kenyan Performances
Catherine Ndereba Wins The Women’s Marathon
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Kenya’s Yego Wins The 800m Final
Bernard Lagat — Kenyan Turned American Pulls Off A Rare Double:
Wins Both 1500m and 5000m
What a great show put on by Kenyan attletes — 13 Medals, and in second place overall, behind only the United States.
Congratulations!
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