We used to think that the Kenyans are just dominant in the long distance races, but the 2015 World Championships in Beijing has taught us that they are now ready to take over the whole of Athletics.
Who would have believed that a Kenyan athlete would emerge as a World Champion in Javelin, not to talk of setting records in it. Julius Yego stunned the world to win GOLD on Wednesday, and he did it in style winning with a monster throw of 92.72m, thereby becoming his country’s first ever athlete to win a world title in a field event.
Egypt’s Ihab Abdelrahman EL Sayed only got two throws on the board, but it was enough to take Silver with his 88.99m achievement, as Tero Pitkamaki claimed Bronze throwing his best of 87.64m
Yego came out strongly in his third attempt, having thrown 82.42m in his second attempt. Filled with belief as he launched the spear in the air like a missile as he himself crashed on the tartan, but he wouldn’t mind seeing where the Javelin landed, way more than his previous Personal Best (PB).
This is not the first time that Yego has gone past the 90m mark this season. He became the World Leader this year when at the Birmingham Diamond League he threw an astonishing 91.39m. That then was an African Record, but with his latest achievement, he has now further increased the continent’s record, and he is now the third highest ranked athlete in the all-time list.
Yego’s throw today is the farthest by any athlete in the last 14 years, and who knows, it could be a matter of time before he matches Jan Železný World Record of 98.48.
As if Kenya haven’t stated enough their intent in this championships, Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi added another GOLD to her country’s impressive tally when she won the women’s 3000m Steeplechase in 9:19.11.
That GOLD saw Kenya consolidate on their lead, and they now have 11 medals overall: 6 GOLDS, 3 Silvers and 2 Bronzes.
Jepkemoi ran a very tactical race despite looking like being out of contention in the last 110m, but she came back strongly, timing her run as she crossed the last barrier to nick the win. Tunisia’s Habiba Ghribi won Silver in 9:19.24 with Germany’s Gesa Felicitas Krause winning Bronze in 9:19.25.
If there was any doubt that these Championships could be Kenya’s for the taking, such has now been put to bed as the East Africans maintained their dominating with more GOLDs won on Wednesday.
Did You Know:
Yego learned how to throw the Javelin by just watching Youtube videos of past throwers. In fact in some quarters, they call him the “Youtube-Man”.
