Kenya's Kamworor defends his title

Mar 26, 2017

Geoffrey Kamworor goes for the kill in the final lap to overtake an exhausted Joshua Cheptegei and go for gold in the Senior men's race.

EVENT: 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships

HOST: Kampala, UGANDA

VENUE: Kololo Independence Grounds

KAMPALA - Kenya's Geoffrey Kamworor put up a steely performance as he successfully defended his World Senior men's title on Sunday in Kampala.

Leonard Barsoton, took silver while Ethiopia's Abadi Hadis took bronze.

Initially, Uganda's Stephen Kissa rubbed shoulders with the likes of Vincent Rono of Kenya and USA's Stanely Kebenei in the leading group early into the race.

Kissa's fellow countryman Joshua Cheptegei followed close behind alongside defending champion Geoffrey Kamworor.

Cheptegei, a cross country champion, breezed into the lead mid-way through the race. It turned into a two-man affair at the very front as cheptegei gave title-holder Kamworor a run for his money.

Ethiopia's Bonsa Dida was a distant third at this point.

The home crowd was given more than a reason to turn up their volume as Cheptegei broke further away from Kamworor, with three kilometers left to run.

Then came the final lap. The disastrous final lap for the Ugandan! First, he appeared he was going for it, before a resolute Kamworor  overtook him.

Tables turned suddenly as Uganda's second gold hopeful tired ever and ever. His legs gave way and became rubbery, surrendering what should have been a historic achievement for him.

Kamworor eventually finished first to defend his title.

 

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