Cherono falls, Kisa takes bronze

Kenya’s wait for a gold medal continued on Monday night when the country lost yet another Africa title when Janet Kisa settled for bronze in women’s 5,000m final at Grande Stade in an empty Marrakech.

Indeed, favourites Commonwealth champion Mercy Cherono of Kenya and World Indoor 3,000m champion Ethiopian Gezebe Dibaba found their match in Ethiopian front-running Almaz Ayana, who destroyed the field in championship record time of 15:32.72.

Dibaba, who had set two World Indoor records sin 1,500m and 3,000m in February, settled for silver in 15:42.16 as Kisa, a silver medallist from the Commonwealth Games, clocked 15:54.04 for bronze.

The 2012 Africa Cross Country silver medallist Margaret Wangare (15:55.18) and World 5,000m silver medallist Cherono(16:08.81) would wrap up the top five positions. A mesmerized Ayana, who won bronze in 5,000m at the 2013 Moscow Worlds said: “I didn’t expect to win, I am very happy,” said Ayana.

Dibaba blamed her injured toe as Cherono complained of fatigue perhaps after a chaotic flight connections from Glasgow that saw them arrive late for the champion. “I tried to sprint and catch up but I was in pain from a paining toe,” said Dibaba. It was Ethiopia’s time after Gladys Cherono led Veronica Nyaruai in staging a 1-2 show in 2012 Benin.

CHAOTIC CONNECTION

The wisdom of picking same athletes to compete at the Commonwealth Games and the Africa Championships came to question with the chaotic flight connection also contributing to Kenya’s miseries.

“Things were not good. The gusting winds and fatigue occasioned by long hours of travelled took tall on us,” said Cherono. “I will now turn my focus on Diamond League event in Birmingham.”

Kisa, the Africa Cross silver medallist is still happy with her performance so far. “I am pleased to be the top Kenyan and look forward to the world cup next month. It has been a good season for me.”

“We were just tired and it’s not easy to just from a cold Glasgow to a hot Marrakech,” said Wangare. National champion Fergusson Rotich oozed speed and dominance to lead Evans Kipkorir and Cornelius Kiplagat to men’s 800m finals. Rotich won his semi-final heat in 1:45.80.

Kipkorir also led the field through the slowed heat three in 1:48.66.

Kiplagat, who replaced David Rudisha finishing third behind World champion Mohammed Aman from Ethiopia and Commonwealth Games champion Amos Nijel from Botswana. Kiplagat (1:46.81) behind Aman (1:46.63) and Amos (1:46.72). “I could easily win gold here after I saw Nijel and Aman run. They looked tired and I can easily cash on that,” said Kiplagat.

Kenyans Boniface Mucheru and Maureen Jelagat eased through to the men’s finals that were due yesterday after a good show in their respective semi-finals on Monday night.

Mucheru finished second in his heat in 46.38 behind the winner Botswana Pako Seribe(45.62). The 2010 Commonwealth Games champion Mark Mutai posted a poor in sixth place in 46.77 behind the defending champion Isaac Makwala(45.53).

“I am not in my best shape besides the fatugue,” said Mucheru who opted for the flat event and not the 400m hurdles where he claimed bronze in 2012 Benin.

Jelagat, who won bronze in 400m hurdles at the 2010 Nairobi Championships, is hoping for another medal away from the hurdles after she finished second in 52.62 behind Nigerian Patience Okon(51.55).

Tera Langat (7.65)and Elijah Kimitei (7.63)wound sixth and seventh respectively in the men’s long jump final. South African Zark Visser retained his gold medal on 8.08m.