Paul Kipkemoi added another gold medal to Kenya’s growing haul at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, after winning the M40 5,000m title in commanding fashion.
Kipkemoi surged across the finish line early Friday in 14:32.27 to extend Kenya’s golden run at the championships.
Belgium’s Kevin Schauwaers settled for silver in 15:07.93, while Canada’s Martin Bailey completed the podium in 15:22.08.
Attention now turns to Saturday’s M40 1,500m final, where Kenyan steeplechase legend Paul Kipsiele will be chasing another gold medal.
Kipsiele looked in ominous form in Thursday’s heats, dominating the opening round in 4:15.89. Morocco’s Younesse El Gourch was second in 4:16.20, with Japan’s Tetsuji Kambora third in 4:20.11.
Philip Kipketer, however, saw his campaign end in the second heat after clocking 4:44.26 to finish eighth and miss out on the final.
In the M60 1,500m, James Sigei safely booked his place in Saturday’s final after finishing third in 5:11.02. Canada’s Benuit Hogur won the heat in 5:08.80, ahead of Australia’s Peter Stevens in 5:10.42.
Kenya has enjoyed a rich medal harvest throughout the championships, with the golden campaign getting off to a flying start on the opening weekend.
Veteran race walker Eric Sikuku struck first, winning the M50 10km race walk title in 49:35. Puerto Rico’s Melvin Mercado was second in 54:16, while India’s Biju Pudussery took bronze in 55:40.
Distance specialist Peter Wanjiru followed with an emphatic victory in the M40 10,000m, clocking 31:14 to finish well clear of Tunisia’s Hoykel Sboui, who ran 32:45, and Italy’s Umberto Persin in 33:06.
On Monday, Sylvia Chesebe produced a commanding performance to win the W35 800m in 2:09.87. Australia’s Nicolette Hargrave was second in 2:11.26, with Spain’s Stephanie Araya taking bronze in 2:14.57.
Betty Chebet then secured Kenya’s first field-event gold with a 42.44m effort in the W35 discus. Australia’s Morgan Vosilla took silver with 39.70m, while Malaysia’s Jeng Yap was third with 38.76m.
Grace Kidake added a silver medal in the W40 800m after clocking 2:18.75. Benin’s Noelie Yarigo won in 2:10.55, while Britain’s Sian Lewis was third in 2:18.98.
Tuesday brought more success as Florence Chepsoi stormed to W40 5,000m gold in 18:19.37, holding off American April Lund, who finished in 18:24.24. Ireland’s Rachel Murphy was third in 19:38.78.
Rosaline David maintained the momentum with a dominant front-running display to win the W45 5,000m title in 18:57.20. France’s Laetitia Bonnechorgue was second in 20:03.04, with Britain’s Madeline Plieth third in 20:08.84.
The only disappointment came in the M60 800m, where Sigei finished 12th in 2:34.08.
Elsewhere on Thursday, Julius Bilat narrowly missed out on a podium place in the M70 5,000m after finishing fifth in 21:10.81.
