Jeruto serves steeplechase heartbreak to Kenya after switching to Kazakhstan

Kenyan-born Kazakhstan national Norah Jeruto has heartbroken her motherland after running away with the 3000m steeplechase Kip Keino Classic title at Kasarani Stadium.

Jeruto ran the fastest time ever in the water and barrier race on Kenyan soil as she detached herself from the field in the initial stages of the race and maintained the breathtaking pace throughout to bag gold.

Jeruto who broke way with Olympic champion and Ugandan Peruth Chemutai kept on accelerating and would prove too much to the latter who began to fade after eight laps.

In an effort to save the country blushes, Faith Cherotich summoned her energies and closed in on Chemutai in the ninth lap and would overtake her when the bell rung to settle for silver.

Jeruto timed 9:04.95 while Cherotich clocked 9:12.04. Chemutai stopped the clock at 9:20.07.

Earlier on, Olympian Abel Kipsang proved peerless as he sprinted to victory in the 1500m and subsequently, he dethroned World U20 Champion Vincent Keter.

Kipsang won the race in 3:31.01 ahead of Reynolds Kipkorir who timed 3:35.50. Former World U20 champion Kumari Taki was third after clocking 3:36.73.

Kipsang noted that had the race for the gold been a little bit tough, he would have lowered the time recorded.

"I wish I had someone pushing me today, I would have gone faster. I have been preparing for this race for long since I missed last year’s event and I wanted to do something special here.

I was just from competing in the national championship but that did not stop me going all out here. This is good for me ahead of the busy season ahead. I will, however, not ne competing at the African championships,"