Cheruiyot ends gold drought as he wins men’s 1,500m title
By Amos Abuga, October 7, 2019
Timothy Cheruiyot of Kenya won the men’s 1,500 metres world title in Doha yesterday in an astonishing run leading from pillar to post timing 3:29.26.
Algeria’s 2012 Olympic champion Taoufik Makhloufi took silver in 3:31.38 whilst Poland’s Marcin Lewandowski took the bronze in a time of 3:31.46.
It was third time lucky for Cheruiyot who has won silver in the last two events, playing second fiddle to compatriot and world 2017 champion Elijah Manangoi but with the latter not in Doha due to an injury, it was his to lose.
Cheruiyot has been the best athlete this season over the distance and his victory was not a big surprise, having won the 2019 Diamond League Trophy.
The win was Kenya’s fifth gold in Doha, following on the successes of Ruth Chepng’etich (women’s marathon), Beatrice Chepkoech (women’s steeplechase), Conseslus Kipruto (men’s steeplechase) and Hellen Obiri (women’s 5,000m).
Coming to Doha, Kenya Prisons Service inspector Cheruiyot had only two silver medals at World Championships and Commonwealth Games but he destroyed the field to claim his first gold while compatriot Ronald Kwemoi finished seventh.
Cheruiyot had clocked a fastest time of 3:36.53 in the semis on Friday and his confidence was sky high that he opted for a front-running tactic just as he did in the semis, and it paid off.
The 23-year-old, who was recently promoted from the position of constable, holds a personal best of 3:28.41.
Meanwhile, Rhonex Kipruto claimed a bronze medal in the men’s 10,000m race won by Ugandan favourite Joshua Cheptegei as Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha won silver.