Kenya’s Dennis Kipkoech grabbed a silver medal in the 3000m steeplechase for men as Diana Chepkemoi won a bronze in the women’s category of the World U20 Championships in a final run on Friday, August 30, 2024.
In the early morning race, Sembo Almayew won the women’s race to become the first-ever Ethiopian world U20 women’s steeplechase champion. She surged clear of her chief rival Loice Chekwemoi of Uganda on the penultimate lap and came home at 9:12.71.
The Ethiopian took 0.07 off the championship record set by Celliphine Chespol in 2018 as Chekwemoi timed 9:18.84 in second with Kenya’s Chepkemoi taking bronze in 9:29.84.
In the men’s race, Kipkoech failed to win gold as a surprise winner emerged. Norway’s Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen timed 8:20.56 to win ahead of Kenya’s Kipkoech (8:20.79) and Britain’s Edward Bird (8:21.00).
Kenya’s other representative, Clinton Kimutai, launched a vicious surge, and he was joined at the front by Kipkoech with a lap left but faded through the field on the back straight.
But if he was the fly who had taken flight, then Halvorsen was the spider who was lying in wait, and the Norwegian pounced on the final bend and powered clear to a memorable gold.
“I’m getting in the shape of my life now; these last days and weeks were great. I wanted to fight for the gold, and that is exactly what I did. I’m grateful for everyone that helped me to do this and the ones that are going to help me get even further,” the Norwegian said, as quoted by World Athletics.
More hope for Kenya
There is hope for more medals for Kenya after the 800m semis concluded. Sarah Moraa, Mary Moraa’s cousin, won the third semifinal in 2:03.44 to book her place in the final.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Claudia Hollingsworth won her semifinal in 2:03.52 as Japan’s Rin Kubo edged USA’s Sophia Gorriaran to win the first semifinal, 2:03.00 to 2:03.01.
In the men’s version, Kenya is hopeful of getting a medal after Kelvin Kimutai and Kipkoskei Koech’s qualifications. Kimutai was second in his semis round behind Australia’s Peyton Craig.
The Australian won the first semifinal in 1:47.31, while Ethiopia’s General Berhanu Ayansa won the second semifinal in 1:47.28. Koech won the last semifinal just ahead of Ko Ochiai of Japan (1:48.26).
