The Standard – Kenya: Kenya leads the medal table at the last day of the U20 World Athletics Championships | The standard



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By Dennis Okeyo, in Tampere, Finland:

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Monday July 16, 2018 at 00:00 GMT +3
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Athletics

Solomon Lekuta, after winning the semi-finals of the men's 800m at the IAAF World Championships in Tampere, Finland. [Dennis Okeyo, Standard]

On the final day of the five-day event at the IAAF U20 World Championships in Tampere, Finland, Kenyans dominated the medal table for the fourth time in history .

Kenyan stars again showed a thrilling performance on the world stage that drew a total of 1,466 athletes under 20 from 160 nations and 11 medals (six gold medals, four gold medals). silver and a bronze).

The first exploit of Kenya was in 2000 in Santiago de Chile. They led with 14 medals (seven gold, four silver and three bronze).

In the Beijing event in 2006, the middle and long distance power station dominated the world with 15 medals (six gold, seven silver and two bronze).

In Moncton, Canada, eight years ago, Kenyans presented another world – clbad performance with seven gold, four silver and four bronze medals.

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At the event in Finland, Kenyans opened their medal with two gold medals on the first day of the Kipruto Rhonex in 10 '000m and Beatrice Chebet's victory at the women's 5000m.

George Manangoi's victory in the men's 1,500m and the quality performance of Edward Zakayo who saw defending champion Selemon Barega of Ethiopia, favorite before the race, move to fourth place, are the highlights of the five-day event.

Meanwhile, with a race that demanded speed, stamina and a sense of self-confidence, Kenyan Solomon Lekuta badured his nation of his third gold medal in a row. Men's 800m at the track and field event.

"I'm really happy with the gold medal but the competition was very hot because everyone wanted it too," said Lekuta.

"I have been training for a long time for this championship and I want to dedicate the gold medal to my parents."

Taking the lead of the shot, Lekuta broke through the 200m opening in 25 seconds and took things slightly, pbading 400m just behind the Ethiopian Adisu Girma, who was pbading in 52.17 with a horde of Athletes who followed in his footsteps.

Markham Lonsdale of Britain fell sad just before the bell, a leg collision immediately ending his medal hopes as he crashed on the track.

In the back straight, Girma continued to turn the screw behind him, the second Kenyan, Ngeno Kipngetich, appearing the best placed to launch a gold strike with Algerian Osama Cherrad.

At the same time, for the first time since the inauguration of these championships in 1986, the winner of the male steeplechase did not come from Kenya.

Then, it is the Spanish Juan Azkueta who won a comfortable victory of a second against a Kenyan rival, but the Ethiopian Takele Nigate and the Kenyan Leonard Bett were confronted before the Ethiopian comes to the end of Kenya. after 15 consecutive editions.

"It's my first international competition and I'm very happy," said the 18-year-old athlete, who made his appearance in Tampere with a modest 8: 35.53.

"My plan was to leave with 100metres.I was delighted to snatch the gold medal in the last second."

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