IAAF World champions Hellen Onsando Obiri and Elijah Manangoi led Kenyan 1-2 finishes in their respective events on the last day of track and field competition at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast on Saturday.
Obiri’s win in the 5000m broke the run of Ugandan dominance in flat distance events, following Joshua Cheptegei’s 5000m and 10,000m golds and Stella Chesang’s 10,000m title.
Taking control after a slow opening kilometre, Hellen Obiri and Kenyan teammate Margaret Kipkemboi gradually cranked up the pace with three successive kilometres at 2:59 pace.
By then it was clear Kenya would win; the only question was which one. Obiri answered the question emphatically with a flying final 200 metres in a tick over 30 seconds to win in 15:13.11.
Kipkemboi made it a 1-2 in 15:15.28 with England’s Laura Weightman overtaking Juliet Chekwel of Uganda on the final lap to take third in 15:25.84. It was the first time Uganda has been shut out of the medals in the four longest track distance races at the Games.
Elijah Manangoi took the men’s gold in 3:34.78 ahead of world silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot, who settled for the silver in 3:35.17. Scotland’s Jake Wightman won the battle for the bronze in 3:35.97 as Kenyan world U20 champion Kumari Taki faded.
England took both 4x100m relays to take the biggest share of relay gold, with Jamaica and Botswana splitting the 4x400m relays.
The English team ran 38.13 secs to win the men’s 4x100m from South Africa and Jamaica. However, Jamaica won the women’s 4x400m in 3:24.00. Nigeria was second with Botswana setting a national record of 3:26.86 in third place.
Botswana had their turn for glory by winning a physical men’s 4x400m. Leaname Maotoanong, Baboloki Thebe, Onkabetse Nkobolo and individual champion Isaac Makwala combined to win in 3:01.78 from The Bahamas, 3:01.92, and Jamaica, 3:01.97.
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