Kenya clinches 7th gold in 3,000m steeplechase race

Ethiopia's Sofia Abebe Assefa denied Kenya a cleans weep in the women's 3,000m steeplechase race on Sunday as she scooped silver behind winner Milcah Chemos on the final day of the Senior Africa Athletics Championship in Nairobi.

Chemos, the world bronze medalist of the event, won Kenya's seventh gold as she made a late charge in the final 50m to secure her second victory over the Ethiopian in as many races.

In Eugene, Oregon in June, Chemos beat Assefa and reaffirmed her form as she chalked up gold in 9:32.18 while Assefa took the silver in 9:32.58.

Kenya also claimed the bronze medal with Lydia Rotich getting better of compatriot Mercy Njoroge to finish third in 9:37.32.

Njoroge was the fourth in 9:38.79 while Morocco's Hanane Ouhaddou was the fifth in 9:43.13 ahead of Ethiopia's Mekdes Tadese Bekele 9:50.77.

Another Ethiopian Halima Haasen had to settle for the seventh position after she was dropped off the leading pack in the fourth lap. She clocked 10:11.10 with Madagascar's Eliane Sohalinirina 10:33.56 and Myrette Filmalter (South Africa) last in 11:23.21.

The race started on a slow pace, as none of the athletes wanted to take the commitment.

By the first water jump, a pack of seven was still together led by Chemos with Moroccan and three Ethiopians in contention.

For the next five laps, the pace remained the same with athletes tugging behind their colleagues.

With five laps remaining, Chemos again tried to take up the pace and this was enough to drop of Ouhaddou and Bekele as she remained with Rotich, Njoroge.

The four remained in contention as they came through the seventh lap with the time reading 7:05.76.

With Njoroge in the lead, many thought that the Ethiopian would prove a better bet, but Chemos emerged from behind as they approached the bell to take charge again. At the bell the time was 8:22.34.

However, Assefa keen to get level with Chemos took charge as they approached the water jump and with the final bent, the crowd were certain the gold was gone.

But Chemos produced her trade mark sprint and caught up with Assefa in the final hurdle as she went for the gold.

Source: Xinhua