WRRC: Clean sweep for Kenyan men in Riga

At some point, World 10000m silver medalist Daniel Simiu was looking comfortable and set to win the men’s half marathon in the inaugural World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia.

However, that was not be as Berlin Half Marathon champion Sebastian Sawe produced remarkable fight on the course, outsprinting the fading Simiu fifty metres to the tape, to clinch top honours.

Sawe didn’t just win the race but did it in a championship record of 59 minutes and ten seconds with Simiu settling for silver after clocking 59:14.

Samuel Nyamai settled for bronze after timing 59:18.

Simiu, injected breathtaking pace with three kilomteres remaining and maintained a healthy gap between him and the three athletes, including the duo of Sawe and Nyamai.

One could easily tell that he was going for nothing short of gold given his acceleration and the rift that kept on widening.

WRRC: Jepchirchir completes world half marathon hat-trick with victory in Riga

While Simiu kept on engaging higher gears in a bid to win the race, Sawe held his card close to the chest and executed the plan meticulously.

He summoned his energies and began eating up the gap, setting up what was an entertaining finish as he finally closed in on Simiu’s heels.

The tiring body couldn’t get Simiu over the line and the best he could, was to demonstrate professionalism and sportsmanlike conduct as he saluted Sawe as soon as he raced past him.

Much as Simiu didn’t win the race, his upsurge was enough to deplete energy from Ethiopia’s Jamel Jimer who was threatening to spoil the party for Kenyans.

The clean sweep came barely minutes after Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir led Kenyan women to take home all the medals in the ladies’ category.