Ethiopia stop Kenya's gold 'reggae' in women's 5,000m
Kenya's Zena Cheptoo celebrates after winning silver in the women's 5000m final during the World Under-20 Athletics Championship at Kasarani on August 22, 2021.
What you need to know:
- Cherotich and Cheptoo dropped from the leading pack with four laps to go as Ethiopia's pair of Mizan Alem and Melknat Wudu injected pace into the race.
- The lanky Alem led Wudu at the bell and never looked back winning the race in 16 minutes 05.61 seconds.
Kenya’s Zenah Cheptoo got to win silver in women’s 5,000m on Sunday after Melknat Wudu from Ethiopia and Uganda’s Prisca Chesang were disqualified at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships at Kasarani.
Cheptoo had finished fourth in a race that was won by Ethiopian MIzan Alem in 16 minutes and 05.61 seconds with Wudu and Chesang settling second and third.
However, all was in vain for Wudu and Chesang as they were disqualified for lane infringement to hand Cheptoo, who had clocked 16:29.44 silver.
Kenya's Zena Cheptoo celebrates after winning silver in the women's 5000m final during the World Under-20 Athletics Championship at Kasarani on August 22, 2021.
Carla Dominguez from Spain, who came in fifth in 16:45.79, was promoted to the bronze position as another Kenyan Maureen Cherotich scaled one place to fourth in 16:58.95.
Part of the action in the women's 5000m final during the World Under-20 Athletics Championship at Kasarani on August 22, 2021.
Part of the action in the women's 5000m final during the World Under-20 Athletics Championship at Kasarani on August 22, 2021.
“It’s not the way I wanted to win a medal…In fact, I wanted gold but The Ethiopian proved stronger,” said Cheptoo, adding that she is going to embark on endurance training to perform well in future events.
