Kiplagat, Araptany struggle in Moscow heat

By Norman Katende in Moscow

IAAF World Athletics Championships

3000m Steeplechase men’s final

1. E. Kemboi (KEN) 8:06.01

2. C. Kipruto (KEN) 8:06.37

3. M. Mekhissi-Benabbad (FRA) 8:07.86

12. J. Araptany (UGA) 8:25.86

14 B. Kiplagat (UGA) 8:31.09

JACOB Araptany’s dream of improving on his previous appearance at the World Championships evaporated in the Moscow heat in the fast paced 3000m steeplechase final at Luzhniki Stadium.

Araptany finished 12th in a race where he hoped to achieve a lot better than the fifth place finish he managed in Daegu two years back.

Ezekiel Kemboi dances away after clinching gold to put Kenya in second place on the medals table. Photo by Norman Katende

Araptany had believed that he would be able to dictate the pace of the race but struggled in the heat right from the beginning as the Kenyan duo of Conselus Kipruto and Paul Koech put paid to that plan.

The duo showed plenty of teamwork as they paved the way for Kemboi with Kipruto at one point waving incessantly at the reigning Olmpic champion to take the lead. 

The runners were bunched up together for long spells in the race and France’s Noreddine Smail crashed out of the race after he was tagged as the field cleared a water pit.

USA's Evan Jager and France's Mekhissi-Benabbad try to avoid contact with Smail after his fall. Photo by Norman Katende.

Pre-race favourite Kemboi raced to victory in style, winning his third consecutive World Championships title in a time of 8 minutes 6.01 seconds.

But Araptany, who couldn’t manage to keep with the pace, drop off at the half way mark, before clocking 8:25.86, over 19 seconds behind.

“I tried but I could not move. It was too hard for me. The body could not react well,” said Araptany while Kiplagat could only sum it up as “a hard race.”

Ronald Musagala and Philip Kipyeko follow proceedings from the stands in the Luzhniki Stadium. Photo by Norman Katende.

The elimination of the duo leaves Uganda’s burden of winning at least a medal at the biennial event on the marathoners, who will be the last lot to compete on Saturday afternoon.

Stephen Kiprotich, Jackson Kiprop and Abraham Kiplimo will all be racing event.