Tag Archives: Leonard Bett

Athletics

Over ten former Kenyans return to haunt Kenyan athletes in Oregon

Siblings Norah Tanui Jeruto, the former Commonwealth Youth Games 2,000m bronze medalist and Daisy Jepkemei, the former world junior 3,000m steeplechase champion are some of the huge athletes’ talents exported to other nations.

The duo will simply be Kenyans versus former Kenyans affair at this year’s World Athletics championships that will be held in Eugene, Oregon, in the United States of America.

With most exports lining up on track and road running where over 1900 athletes from 192 World Athletics (WA) member federations will be battling out for 43 gold medals at the Eugene Hayward Field between July 15th to July 24th.

According to the list released by WA, Jeruto. Who won the World Youth 2,000m steeplechase in 2011 and succeeded by Jepkemei who won the title in 2013 as the race became a family affair will be representing Kazakhstan.

They will fly the Kazakhstan at the world championships and are expected to give a competitive race against fellow Kenyans running for Kenya.

Jeruto is also the 2016 Africa Senior Athletics 3,000m steeplechase champion while Jepkemei is the former Africa Youth 2,000m steeplechase champion.

Another Kenyan born Winfred Mutile Yavi will be running for Bahrain in the same race against Kenyans led by world 3,000m record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, Jackline Chepkoech, Celliphine Chespol Chepteek and Purity Kirui.

In the recent past, Kenyan athletes’ have switched their allegiance has seen their new nations claim a big share of Kenyan glory as they are spread across the world.

Just like in 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Ruth Jebet won gold in the 3,000m steeplechase and Eunice Kirwa won silver in the marathon behind Jemimah Sumgong.

Despite Kenyans switching nationalities, their love is not lost since they can communicate in Swahili and still train in their country of origin.

Eunice Chebichii Chumba will be representing her new found lover Bahrain where she will be competing in a marathon. Just Chebichii, Lonah Chemtai Salpeter will be representing Israel in the marathon.

The two former Kenyans will be chasing the marathon title against reigning champion Ruth Chepngetich, Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir, Paris marathon champion Judith Jeptum Korir and Vienna City marathon champion Angela Tanui.

In men, Jonah Koech will be representing the hosts in the 800m competing against Kenyans led by reigning world under 20 800m bronze medalist Noah Kibet, reigning Commonwealth Games 800m champion Wycliffe Kinyamal, Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Korir and world under 20 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi.

In a crowded 10,000m, Belgium’s Isaac Kimeli will be up in arms for his new nation, competing against Commonwealth Games 10,000m bronze medalist Rodgers Kwemoi Chumo, Daniel Mateiko and Stanley Waithaka Mburu.

Two former Kenyan athletes will be flying the American flag in the 3,000m steeplechase. Hillary Bor and Bernard Keter will face former country mates Leonard Bett, Abraham Kibiwot, Benjamin Kigen and reigning champion Conseslas Kipruto.

Others who have switched allegiance include, Bahraini Benson Kiplagat Seurei, the son of 1987 All Africa Games 1,500m champion James Seurei who competes in 1,500m, Mike Ozbilen Kigen in marathon representing Turkey, Abraham Rotich (800m) and Albert Rop (5,000m), Rose Chelimo, Isaac Korir and Abraham Cheroben (10,000m).

Lucy Kimani, Yasemin Can, Tarik Langat Akdag run in 3,000m steeplechase, Ali Kaya, Ilham Tanui, Ozbilen, Meryem Akda, Bernard Lagat, Paul Chelimo, Leonard Korir and Shadrack Kipchirchir, Evans Kiplagat.

 

Athletics

Kibiwott, Kigen to battle Saufiane El Bakkali in Doha

Africa junior 3,000m steeplechase champion Abraham Kibiwott will battle for honors with the Olympic Games 3,000m steeplechase bronze medalist Benjamin Kigen at the Doha Diamond League Meeting that will be held on Friday (13) in Doha, Qatar.

The 25 year-old who is fresh from winning the Kip Keino Classic last Saturday,  Kibiwot is optimistic about posting good results as he faces Kigen who comes to this with the fastest time on paper of 8:05.12 that he got at the 2019 Herculis Meeting.

Kibiwott who is also the African Championships Bronze medallist comes to this race holding the second fastest time of 8:05.72 that he got at the same venue as Kigen but finished a distant fifth.

The two will battle for honors with the Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Saufiane El Bakkali from Morocco, Tokyo Olympics 3000m silver medallist Lemecha Girma and African Championships bronze medallist, Getnet Wale.

Other title contenders include former World U20 champion Leonard Bett, Kenyan-born American, Hillary Bor and Lawrence Kemboi.

Athletics

Sandrafelis Chebet and Leonard Bett lift South Rift Cross Country titles

Former WorldU20 3000m steeplechase champion Leonard Kipkemoi Bett and World under 20 silver medalist Sandrafelis Chebet were the winners of South Rift Cross Country championships that were held today (Saturday 8) at the Njoro Boys High school in Nakuru County.

The 21 year-old was pushed to the wire by Geoffrey Kimutai who pushed him to the tape with the latter cutting the tape in 28:23, one second ahead of Kimutai. Andrew Mangati came home in third place in a time of 28:34.

Chebet who is fresh from winning the Sao Silvestre de Sao Paulo cross country ran away with the women title 32:03 ahead of Viola Chepngeno in 32:11 with Fancy Cherono taking in bronze medal in a time of 32:21.

Faith Cherono came home in fourth with the 2013 World silver medalist Champion, Mercy Cherono finishing in fifth in 32:54 and 33:07 respectively.

LEADING RESULTS

10KM MEN

  1. Leonard Bett       (BMT)- 28:23
  2. Geoffrey Koech   (KRH)- 28:24
  3. Andrew Mangat  (NKR)- 28:34
  4. Mathu Samberu  (KJD)- 28:37
  5. Shem Tolu           (KRH)- 28:37

LEADING RESULTS

10KM WOMEN

  1. Sandrafelis Chebet (KRH)- 32:03
  2. Viola Chepngeno   (KRH)- 32:11
  3. Fancy Cherono       (KRH)- 32:21
  4. Faith Cherono        (NKR)- 32:54
  5. Mercy Cherono       (KRH)- 33:07
Athletics

Emmanuel Kiplagat beats Leonard Bett to lift the Machakos Cross Country title

Africa U18 3000m champion Emmanuel Kiplagat and Esther Borura were the winners of the first Athletics Kenya Cross Country Championships that was held on Saturday (7) in at the Machakos People’s Park in Machakos County.

Following the postponement of the races to mourn the late Agnes Jebet Tirop, action resumed today and Kiplagat took on his closest challenger and he beat him hands down as he cut the tape in 29:40.07 with Vincent Kipkurui coming home second in 29:42.2. Fredrick Domongele closed the first three podium finishes in 30:08.0.

The 2020 Summer Olympian Leonard Bett finished in a distant fifth in a time of  30:25.8.

In women’s 10km race, Borura ran away with the title in 34:07.4 beating Caren Chebet who crossed the line in second in 34:28.52 with Valentine Jepkoech closing the podium finishers in 34:47.47.

Reigning Africa Junior 3000m bronze medallist Gideon Rono returned from circumcision leave to win the 8km junior men title when he cut the tape in 23:29.6 ahead of Parkesh Gasha who pulled 23:42.4 to come home in second place with Gideon Kipngetich finishing in third in 23:42.4.

In junior women, Janet Jepkoech was the victor in a time of 20:50.6 beating Sharon Chepngetich to second in 21:12.5 and Yvone Chepchirchir finishing in third in 21:20.7.

LEADING RESULTS

10KM SENIOR MEN

  1. Emmanuel Kiplagat    -29:40.7
  2. Vincent Kipkurui        -29:42.2
  3. Fredrick Domongele – 30:08.8
  4. Kipsambut Kimakal  -30:10.7
  5. Leonard Bett              – 30:25.8

10KM SENIOR WOMEN

  1. Esther Borura           – 34:04.4
  2. Caren Chebet            – 34:28.5
  3. Valentine Jepkoech   -34:47.4
  4. Agnes Mumbua         – 34:53.8
  5. Beatrice Chepkemoi- 35:03.3
Athletics

Benjamin Kigen runs world lead as Conseslus Kipruto falters in Paris

The battle between the former and current Olympic champions never happened as the two bowed out of the race at the Paris Diamond League Meeting that was held on Saturday (28) at the Stade Charlety in Paris.

The 2020 Tokyo champion, Soufiane El Bakkali from Morocco was the first to bow out as he collided to the first barrier forcing him to pull out while Conseslus Kipruto pulled out in the third round of the race.

The race had its uniqueness as Tokyo bronze medallist Benjamin Kigen led 1-2-3.

The 2019 African games gold medallist started pulling away from the group at the bell and continued to increase his momentum creating a gap at the last 20m to cross the line with one of his finest kick clocking a world lead time of 8.07.12.

The 28 year-old was followed by the 2015 African Junior Athletics Championships gold medallist Abraham Kibiwot who crossed the line in 8:09.35 with Leonard Kipkemoi Bett closing the podium three finishes in 8:10.21.

Ethiopia’s Getnet Wale finished in fourth place  in 8:13.31 while Hillary Bor from the United States finished a distant ninth in 8:21.02.

LEADING RESULTS

3000m Steeplechase Men

  1. Benjamin Kigen  (KEN) 8:07.12
  2. Abraham Kibiwot (KEN) 8:09.35
  3. Leonard Bett (KEN) 8:10.21
  4. Getnet Wale (ETH) 8:13.31
  5. Matthew Hughes (CAN) 8:13.77
Athletics

Kenya makes history in 3000m steeplechase at the Tokyo Olympics

This year will be first time in Kenyan running history of not sending three athletes to the final in the nine Olympics games that Kenya has participated in.

Abraham Kibiwott and Benjamin Kigen are Kenya’s hope as Leonard Bett failed to make the cut at the Tokyo Olympics games that was held on Friday morning at the OLS – Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan

World silver-medalist Lamecha Girma from Ethiopia sailed to the final of the men’s 3,000m steeplechase with the fastest time of 8:09.83.

The 20-year-old who took the second place at the 2019 world championships in Doha carries on his shoulders the world’s leading time of of 8:07.75 that he set at the Monaco Diamond League earlier this month.

This year’s 3,000m steeplechase finals that will be held on Monday will be wide open as the defending champion Conseslus Kipruto failed to qualify for the tournament and will not defend his title that he won in Rio Olympics five years ago.

The East African nation now now will put their hopes on Kibiwot, who pulled the second fastest time of 8:12.25.

“The race was good, it was actually fantastic,” he said. “Tokyo is hot, the temperature is high but we are hoping to make Kenya proud as usual.”

Benjamin Kigen who also qualified with a season best of 8:10.80 will partner with Kibiwott in making sure that steeplechase gold and silver comes homes.

The two Kenyans will face off with the ever green Lamecha and Getnet Wale who also made it to the finals.

Japan’s Ryuji Miura, 19, produced a national record timing of 8:09.92 to make it to the final, and he will have the support of the entire host nation to help challenge for medals.

Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali, the 2017 world champion silver medallist in London and the bronze medalist in the championships in Doha also qualified for the finals. The 25 year old, goes to the finals with a personal best of 7:58.15 that he set in 2018 in Monaco.

Athletics

Kenya finishes top at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships

Kenya’s Solomon Lekuta took gold in the men’s 800 metres on the final day of the International Association of Athletics Federations World Under-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland to seal his team’s position at the top of the medals table with six golds.

Lekuta and team-mate Ngeno Kipngetich secured their nation a third consecutive one-two in the event, with the pair coming home in 1min 46.35sec and 1:46.45 respectively.

Lekuta was just the stronger down the home straight in the Ratina Stadium.

“I’m really happy with the gold medal but the competition was really hot because everyone wanted it too,” said Lekuta.

“I’ve been training for this championship for a long time and I want to dedicate the gold medal to my parents.”

Jamaica, inspired by an audacious 100 and 200m double from 16-year-old Briana Wlliams, were second and the United States third – although the latter team had by far the most medals with a tally of 18 and were clear leaders on the placings table.

That said, it was an unusual position for this traditionally dominant nation, and their performance in the concluding event of the men’s 4x400m, where they were expected to win, summed up their Championships.

The US baton crashed to the track at the end of the first leg, and though it was swiftly picked up by lead-leg runner Elija Godwin, the loss of seconds would prove critical.

Italy and Belgium were charging ahead in the race for gold, the Italians seizing command on the third leg after an inspired run by Alessandro Sibilio.

He passed on to Edoardo Scotti who pulled further clear, the European under-20 champions eventually adding the world under-20 title in 3:04.05.

The US did well to salvage second with 3:05.26, with Britain taking third in 3:05.64.

But there was no problem for the US in the equivalent women’s race, where Taylor Manson was able to enjoy an effective lap of honour on the final leg before crossing the line in 3:28.74.

The US had got the final day off to a great start with gold in the women’s 100m hurdles, albeit by even less than thousandths of a second as Tia Jones marginally defeated Jamaica’s Britany Anderson, with both being credited at 13.012.

Has there ever been a closer verdict in athletics?

In the distance events, Ethiopia moved themselves up to fourth on the medal table with a superb brace of gold medals from 3,000m steeplechaser Takele Nigate and 1,500m runner Alemaz Samuel.

In the 3,000m steeplechase, Kenya’s Leonard Bett had been tipped to take gold and continue his nation’s fine, formidable record in the event, with the Kenyans having won gold at every edition from 1988 onwards.

But that run of dominance was put to an abrupt end thanks to a late, irresistible surge by Nigate, who out-duelled Bett in a gruelling home-straight battle to take gold in 8:25.35.

The women’s 1,500m was won in contrasting style by Samuel, who became the third successive champion from Ethiopia.

She made a long drive for home entering the final lap, which she covered in 61.04 to take a convincing win in 4:09.67 over Kenya’s Miriam Cherop and Switzerland’s Delia Sclabas.

Bulgaria’s Aleksandra Nacheva produced a stunning leap of 14.18m in the second round of the women’s triple jump to take her nation’s first gold medal in the event since Tereza Marinova’s triumph in 1996.

While that event may have gone to form, the men’s discus final did anything but, Jamaica’s Kai Chang causing a huge upset by taking gold in 62.36m.

In the women’s high jump, Karyna Taranda of Belarus took gold with 1.92m, with Ireland’s Sommer Lecky taking silver ahead of Colombia’s Maria Fernanda Murillo after both had cleared 1.90m.

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