Obiri and Chelimo win Kenya silver and bronze in 10000m amid elbow controversy
Reading Time: 1min | Sat. 16.07.22. | 23:09
Ethiopian Gidey appeared to check Obiri's surge with a calculated elbow.
Kenya Defence Forces athletics queen Helen Obiri and National Police Service long distance runner Margaret Chelimo respectively won silver and bronze at the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA on Saturday night.
Obiri seemed to be closing in on Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey at the finish line when the panic stricken Gidey aimed an elbow which took the wind out of Obiri's sails leaving the Ethiopian to claim gold in 30:09.94.
The chasing Kenyans clocked 30:10.2 30:10.7 to condemn Dutch girl Sifan Hassan outside the podium places.
Obiri and Chelimo ran a very tactical race from beginning to end only missing out on the gold owing to the craft of Gidey.
Earlier in the 3000m steeplechase Celliphine Chespol became the only Kenyan to progress into the final after Jackline Chepkoech and Purity Kirui both fluffed their chances by finishing outside qualifying positions in heats one and two.
Chespol responded by resolutely winning the final heat to set up an epic final pitting her against on song defectors Norah Jeruto who is representing Kazakhstan and Winfred Yavi representing Bahrain. Home girl Emma Coburn is also in the mix after showing great strength in the third heat.
US based sprinter Motalel Mpoke rallied to finish 4th in the men 400m hurdle race won by Karsten Walhom.
Mpoke clocked 50.19 to qualify for Sundays semifinals
