Kiyeng topple Chebet at KDF athletics
By Amos.Abuga, April 21, 2022
Judith Kiyeng stunned Winny Chebet, reigning Africa 1,500m champion on the second day of the Kenya Defence Forces Athletics Championships at Ulinzi Sports Complex, Lang’ata yesterday.
The younger sister of 2015 Beijing World Championships steeplechase winner Hyvin Kiyeng hopes to build her victory by going to the national championship.
She clocked 4:08.00 to win the women’s 1500m final while Chebet timed 4:08.06 as Serah Jepleting took the final podium position in 4.10.85.
“It’s no secret that my sister Hyvin has been a great inspiration to me. She gave me hope from what she has been able to achieve,” she said.
The 28-year-old Senior Private at the Moi Airbase who took up athletics a decade ago upon completing school at Kapkenda Girls High School, Elgeyo Marakwet says she wants to represent Kenya at the Commonwealth Games.
First breakthrough
“I took up the 800m and 1,500m but I must say representing Kenya at the 2017 World Championships was my first breakthrough in athletics,” she added.
In other results, Caroline Mwende from Mtongwe won the women’s 100m final after clocking 12.54 seconds. Queenector Kisembe took the second position in 12.62 as Rukia Nusra finished third in 12.68.
Wiseman Were from Isiolo emerged the winner in the men’s 110m hurdles finals after recording a time of 13.95, Michael Musyoka was second in 14.55 as William Mbevi took third in 14.76.
In the men’s pole vault finals, Corporal Kennedy Magut from Gilgil emerged the winner with a height of 4.20m as Corporal Robert Kipkoech (4.00m) and Private Emmanuel Mbogo (3.90m) came second and third respectively.
Meanwhile, Italy’s Olympic 100m champion Lamont Jacobs will have an early recce of the Eugene track to be used for the World Athletics Championships when he races the blue riband event at a Diamond League meet at the end of May.
The 27-year-old sprinter left Tokyo with a second Olympic gold as part of Italy’s winning 4x100m relay squad.
This season, Jacobs dethroned American Christian Coleman to take gold in the world indoor 60m in Belgrade.
At the May 28 meet in Eugene, Oregon, “I’ll get my bearings for the world champs”, the Corriere Dello Sport quoted Jacobs as saying.
“It will be a short trip, three days, the time to build confidence with the track and the US set-up.”