Fantastic Kenyan track divas IAAF Moscow Athletics 2013

Wow Moscow 2013 is over and Kenya is sitted fourth in the medal standings.

So this is me paying tribute to Kenyan track divas. I am not saying the men didn't do well. They did fantastic Asbel Kiprop as usual was dominant in the 1500m his long frame belying his powerful sprint. Ezekiel Kemboi now has a mohican but he still wins 3000m steeplechase and we have a new kid - Consensus Kipruto in the same race and not to forget our own you-tube athlete javelin thrower Yego.

So why am I paying tribute to the women - maybe it is because I have soft spot for Kenyan female athletes, maybe it is their spirit in the field - I am not really sure but they are a wonder to behold.

Edna Kiplagat started off Kenya on the first day by defending her marathon title

FANTASTIC EDNA KIPLAGAT MARATHON

Milcah Chemos who everyone said was more of a hurdler than a jumper proved them all wrong. She did a fantastic piece of front running and she and Lydia Chepkurui did what Kenyans have come to expect of the men in the 3000m steeplechase. They bagged Gold and Silver. Milcah didn't even break sweat she was so happy and doing a jig at the end of it

MILCAH CHEMOS 3000M STEEPLECHASE


Milcah said she was tired of playing second fiddle - tired of bagging bronze perenially. She did just that - she is the first ever Kenyan woman Gold medalist in 3000m steeplechase.

Helen Obiri gave a valiant run but her superb kick could not match Jenny Simpson and Aregawi who now runs for Sweden. Simpson somehow managed to run in front and keep strength for a kick. Aregawi never lost her strength at any point - true dominance reminiscent of Nancy Jebet Lagat my last years heroine who didn't have it in her this time. Kipyegon also gave her best kicking with Obiri but fell to fifth place.

HELEN OBIRI BRONZE 1500M



But the highlight of the games for me was Eunice Chepkoech Sum. The media has had a field day playing with her name. Sum did sum it up though for Kenyans.

After Janeth Jepkosgei and Pamela Jelimo no one thought we would ever see another great Kenyan athlete for a while in this distance 800women but Sum in her debut really surprised the world - she came, she saw, she conquered.

All eyes were on home girl Maria Savinova, USA's Allysa Montano (who did some fantastic piece of front running) former champion Lupu of the Ukraine but no one paid attention to Sum and now the world has to stand up and take notice.
In the absence of Rudisha in the men's race Sum just surprised the world in the women's version of events and totally made my day.



What a way to sum up a really fantastic IAAF Moscow 2013

Nancy Jebet Langat - My New Heroine

The Kenyan team performance in the just ended club games "The Commonwealth Games" was fantastic to say the least.

The team hauled in 32  Medals, kept the National anthem singing throughout the games with spectacular 1,2,3 finishes in the 800 M men (Boaz Lalang and "double Kiplagat - Silas and Abraham), 3000 m men Steeplechase(the regular trio of champs - Matelong, Brimin Kipruto and Ezekiel Kemboi) , 5000 m women (World Champion - Vivian Cheruiyot, Sylvia Kibet and Ines Chenonges), 3000 m, steeplechase(World Champion - Milcah Chemos, Mercy Wanjiru and Jerotich Chepkemoi).

Kenya pulled spectacular 1, 2, 3 finishes. 3000 m Steeplechase Matelong, Brimin and Ezekiel Kemboi.

In 10,000 m Grace Momanyi and Doris Chepkwemo also did a one - two finish.
Our Marathoners "double Irene" - Jerotich and Kemunto did the same in the mens marathon while John Kelai and Amos Tirop did the honors in the men's race over the same distance. Other doubles were the men's 1500 m and Men's 10,000 and Men 5000 m. African Champion Grace Wanjiru Njue pulled a bronze in the 20Km walk.
 
Kenya also stunned others and surprised ourselves with two boxing medals from Benson Njangiru who won silver in the flyweight and Joshua Makonjio in the light heavyweight.

More surprises - Mark Mutai proved we can run shorter distances pulling Gold in 400 m and leading the relay team of the double Vincents - Kiplagat and Mumo along with Anderson Mureta to a Silver - quite a wake up call to the Athletics Kenya Federation and the Sports Ministry to start investing in facilities.

If you thought Dunford was a "Olympic fad" - you got it all wrong Jason Dunford and his brother David totally rock and Jason brought back the only swimming gold - which was Kenya's first gold medal in the games.

MY HEROINE

Nancy Jebet Langat is totally my heroine for the games. In the absence of the "Eldoret Express - Janet Jepkosgei" who pulled out the last minute - Nancy Jebet stepped up to the plate and said "why not - lets see what we can do?" The world 1,500 m champion tried her "hand" at the 800 m women's race and she won Gold.
She is the only double Gold medalist we had in the games and she totally pulled powerful performances in both races.

Nancy Jebet Lagat - My Heroine (in a past picture)