ID :
204810
Thu, 09/01/2011 - 17:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/204810
The shortlink copeid
Kenya continues steeplechase dominance; U.S. wins three golds
By Yoo Jee-ho
DAEGU, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Kenya extended its dominance in the steeplechase and the U.S. claimed three gold medals, as a pair of two-time defending champions were bitten by injury bugs on Thursday here at the World Championships in Athletics.
In the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase at Daegu Stadium, Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya defended his world crown in 8 minutes and 14.85 seconds. Teammate Brimin Kiprop Kipruto took the silver and France's Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad came in third place.
Mekhissi-Benabbad almost caught up with Kipruto, who was slowing over the final stretch, but took the bronze by 0.04 seconds.
Kenya swept the event in Osaka four years ago, and took gold and silver in Berlin in 2009. The country has won at least two steeplechase medals in 10 of the past 11 world championships.
Kemboi delighted some 30,000 fans at the stadium in his post-victory celebration, taking off his shirt and pulling out some dance moves.
"I danced to celebrate my title defense and make all the Daegu Stadium happy," Kemboi said. "Brimin has run very well this year. I really stretched myself and accelerated to win the race. I think there will be a big celebration in Kenya."
This was Kenya's fourth gold medal of the championships. The Africans began the day just one gold medal behind the U.S., but the Americans pulled ahead with three gold medals alone on Thursday.
Jesse Williams of the U.S. took the men's high jump title at 2.35 meters, clearing the height in one fewer attempt than the silver medalist Aleksey Dmitrik of Russia. Williams is the first long jump world champion from the U.S. in 20 years.
After contenders fell out one by one, it came down to Williams and Dmitrik trying to clear 2.37 meters. Both failed in their three tries apiece and Williams was declared the winner for clearing the next highest bar in fewer tries.
The two early favorites from Russia, Ivan Ukhov and Aleksandr Shustov, couldn't scale 2.35 meters, clearing the way for Trevor Barry of the Bahamas to win the bronze.
Jennifer Barringer Simpson won the second U.S. gold on the day in the women's 1,500 meters, charging out from the middle of the pack over the final 100 meters to finish in 4:05.40. Britain's Hannah England trailed by 0.28 seconds to come in second, and Natalia Rodriguez of Spain was another 0.19 back in third.
Barringer Simpson later said the key was to stay calm and focused.
"The trick was to focus on myself because I knew how hard I can run the last 400 meters," she said. "I am also a 3,000-meter steeplechaser, so today there was also a lot of steeple experience in the race (and) this experience kept me calm."
Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain, the two-time defending world champ, was apparently injured with under two laps to go and slowed to a jog over the final stretch to end in last place.
Lashinda Demus completed the hat trick for the U.S. in the women's 400-meter hurdles, winning in 52.47 seconds, the world's fastest time this year.
Defending champ Melanie Walker of Jamaica was second at 52.73. Two years ago in Berlin, it had been Walker who beat Demus for the gold.
What was expected to be a close contest in the women's triple jump fizzled, when Yargelis Savigne, the champion in 2007 and 2009, withdrew with a right quad injury after three mediocre tries.
Olha Saladuha of Ukraine took the gold with 14.94 meters. Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan was second at 14.89 meters and Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia took third at 14.84 meters
Savigne managed only 14.43 meters in her first run, and then crossed the scratch line on her next two tries before pulling out with the injury.
Earlier Thursday, Kim Deok-hyeon became the first South Korean long jumper to qualify for the world championships final, ranking 11th among 12 qualifiers at 8.02 meters.
Kim is seen as South Korea's best remaining hope for a top-10 finish. The host country is trying to place at least 10 athletes in the top 10, but only one, race walker Kim Hyun-sub, has accomplished the feat so far.
The South Korean men's 4x400-meter relay team set the national record at 3:04.05 but still missed the final after finishing last in their heat of eight teams.
Elsewhere, Hwang In-sung in the men's shot put, Kim Kyung-ae in the women's javelin throw, Baek Seung-ho in the men's 5,000 meters, Han Da-rye in the women's high jump and Jung Sang-jin in the men's javelin throw all failed to make the finals.
After six days, the U.S. leads the championships with seven gold medals. Russia and Kenya are tied for second with four gold medals each.
The championships will end on Sunday.
DAEGU, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Kenya extended its dominance in the steeplechase and the U.S. claimed three gold medals, as a pair of two-time defending champions were bitten by injury bugs on Thursday here at the World Championships in Athletics.
In the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase at Daegu Stadium, Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya defended his world crown in 8 minutes and 14.85 seconds. Teammate Brimin Kiprop Kipruto took the silver and France's Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad came in third place.
Mekhissi-Benabbad almost caught up with Kipruto, who was slowing over the final stretch, but took the bronze by 0.04 seconds.
Kenya swept the event in Osaka four years ago, and took gold and silver in Berlin in 2009. The country has won at least two steeplechase medals in 10 of the past 11 world championships.
Kemboi delighted some 30,000 fans at the stadium in his post-victory celebration, taking off his shirt and pulling out some dance moves.
"I danced to celebrate my title defense and make all the Daegu Stadium happy," Kemboi said. "Brimin has run very well this year. I really stretched myself and accelerated to win the race. I think there will be a big celebration in Kenya."
This was Kenya's fourth gold medal of the championships. The Africans began the day just one gold medal behind the U.S., but the Americans pulled ahead with three gold medals alone on Thursday.
Jesse Williams of the U.S. took the men's high jump title at 2.35 meters, clearing the height in one fewer attempt than the silver medalist Aleksey Dmitrik of Russia. Williams is the first long jump world champion from the U.S. in 20 years.
After contenders fell out one by one, it came down to Williams and Dmitrik trying to clear 2.37 meters. Both failed in their three tries apiece and Williams was declared the winner for clearing the next highest bar in fewer tries.
The two early favorites from Russia, Ivan Ukhov and Aleksandr Shustov, couldn't scale 2.35 meters, clearing the way for Trevor Barry of the Bahamas to win the bronze.
Jennifer Barringer Simpson won the second U.S. gold on the day in the women's 1,500 meters, charging out from the middle of the pack over the final 100 meters to finish in 4:05.40. Britain's Hannah England trailed by 0.28 seconds to come in second, and Natalia Rodriguez of Spain was another 0.19 back in third.
Barringer Simpson later said the key was to stay calm and focused.
"The trick was to focus on myself because I knew how hard I can run the last 400 meters," she said. "I am also a 3,000-meter steeplechaser, so today there was also a lot of steeple experience in the race (and) this experience kept me calm."
Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain, the two-time defending world champ, was apparently injured with under two laps to go and slowed to a jog over the final stretch to end in last place.
Lashinda Demus completed the hat trick for the U.S. in the women's 400-meter hurdles, winning in 52.47 seconds, the world's fastest time this year.
Defending champ Melanie Walker of Jamaica was second at 52.73. Two years ago in Berlin, it had been Walker who beat Demus for the gold.
What was expected to be a close contest in the women's triple jump fizzled, when Yargelis Savigne, the champion in 2007 and 2009, withdrew with a right quad injury after three mediocre tries.
Olha Saladuha of Ukraine took the gold with 14.94 meters. Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan was second at 14.89 meters and Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia took third at 14.84 meters
Savigne managed only 14.43 meters in her first run, and then crossed the scratch line on her next two tries before pulling out with the injury.
Earlier Thursday, Kim Deok-hyeon became the first South Korean long jumper to qualify for the world championships final, ranking 11th among 12 qualifiers at 8.02 meters.
Kim is seen as South Korea's best remaining hope for a top-10 finish. The host country is trying to place at least 10 athletes in the top 10, but only one, race walker Kim Hyun-sub, has accomplished the feat so far.
The South Korean men's 4x400-meter relay team set the national record at 3:04.05 but still missed the final after finishing last in their heat of eight teams.
Elsewhere, Hwang In-sung in the men's shot put, Kim Kyung-ae in the women's javelin throw, Baek Seung-ho in the men's 5,000 meters, Han Da-rye in the women's high jump and Jung Sang-jin in the men's javelin throw all failed to make the finals.
After six days, the U.S. leads the championships with seven gold medals. Russia and Kenya are tied for second with four gold medals each.
The championships will end on Sunday.
