1500m final: Uganda's Kiplangat, Kiprop fade as Kenya triumphs

Jul 14, 2017

Kiplangat and Kiprop fail to impress in the final of the 1500m final.

PIC: Kiplangat had qualified from heat one earlier on Wednesday

IAAF WORLD U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS


NAIROBI - Uganda's Hosea Kiplangat and Daniel Kiprop failed in their quest for a first Ugandan medal at the ongoing IAAF World U18 Championships in the Kenyan capital Nairobi as a podium finish in the 1500m final (boys) proved elusive Friday evening.

Kenya's George Meitamei Manangoi went on to win gold in a vibrant, edgy conclusion in front of a buoyant home crowd with a time of 3:47.54.

Algeria's Oussama Cherrad had squeezed his way in to seemingly secure silver with a time of 3:48.51 but he would go on to be disqualified, giving way for Ethiopia's Abebe Dassassa to claim the silver with 3:48.65 (personal best).

With Cherrad disqualified, it meant that another Ethiopian, Belete Mekonen, claimed bronze with 3:50.64.

Kiprop came ever so close to a podium finish with a personal best of 3:51.82 in fourth place while countrymate Kiplangat came in seventh with 3:55.48.

A few minutes earlier, the runners were welcomed out of the tunnel with explosive applause from the biggest crowd seen so far at the five-day global event as they galloped onto the blue track to take up their positions.

One rather shocking absence in the lineup however was Kenya's Dominic Kipkemboi, who withdrew from the final late on. That left Manangoi as the sole home interest in the race.

He opted for an approach of patience from the word go, letting Ethiopians Dassassa and Mekonen lead the pack from the start and with Uganda's Kiplangat tucking in right there.

Eventually, the Kenyan runner crept ever forward and with one lap to go, he could sense it as much as the effervescent home crowd that rose to their feet as Manangoi went for gold - Kenya's first of this competition.


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