Silver and bronze! Obiri and Chelimo win Kenya's first medals in Oregon
Bronze medalist Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi of Kenya, gold medalist Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia and silver medalist Hellen Obiri of Kenya pose for a photo following the Women’s 10,000 Metres Final on day two of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 at Hayward Field on July 16, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon.
What you need to know:
- World record holder Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia won gold.
World 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri and Margaret Chelimo won silver and bronze for Kenya in the women's 10,000 metres at the World Championships Oregon22 on Saturday.
World record holder Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia won gold in a world-leading 30:09.94, while Obiri clocked a personal best of 30:10.02 for silver.
From left: Kenya's Hellen Obiri, Ethiopia's Letesenbet Gidey and Kenya's Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi cross the finish line in the women's 10,000m final during the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on July 16, 2022.
Chelimo dug deep from the inside to claim bronze in a life time best of 30:10.07, locking out defending champion Sifan Hassan from the podium.
Gidey and Obiri hit the bell almost shoulder to shoulder for a pulsating 300m sprint as Hassan and Chelimo gave the chase.
Gidey gained some metres from the charging Obiri but had done enough to win in 30 minutes and 09.94 seconds to atone for her silver at the 2019 Doha World Athletics Championships.
USA's Karissa Schweizer (centre) and Kenya's Hellen Obiri (right) compete in the women's 10,000m final during the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on July 16, 2022.
Obiri, who retained her World title in Doha before finishing fourth in 10,000m at the same event, settled second this time round.
Hassan romped home fourth in 30:10.56.
From left: Eritrea's Rahel Daniel, USA's Natosha Rogers, Netherlands' Sifan Hassan and Ethiopia's Bosena Mulatie compete in the women's 10,000m final during the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on July 16, 2022.
The 10,000m silver and bronze are the first medals for the East African athletes on the second day of the championships.
However, Kenya's title drought in the 25-lap race continued with no apparent heir coming through for Vivian Cheruiyot, who last won the title for Kenya at 2015 Beijing Championships.
Obiri, Gidey and Ethiopia's Ejgayehu Taye exchanged the leads as a pool of nine athletes trailed each other in single file with Hassan at the tail end.
Obiri briefly led Gidey with four laps to go as they took the bell together.
But Gidey and Taye broke clear from Obiri on the back straight with Hassan gaining ground on the outer lane.
Obiri and Hassan were shoulder to shoulder at the last bend leaving Taye behind as Gidey pumped her pistons.
The pace was too hot for Hassan to handle with Chelimo passing her.
Obiri almost caught Gidey at the line but the Ethiopian had done enough to win and hand Ethiopia their eighth title in the event.
Kenya later lodged a complaint to the World Athletics jury after Gidey appeared to shove Obiri with her elbow towards the end of the race. The appeal was dismissed with the World Athletics ruling that Gidey was already at an advantage.
