WU20: Lucky Cheptoo scoops silver in 5000m after Chesang and Wudu get disqualified

Cheptoo had earlier finished fourth behind Ugandan Prisca Chesang and the Ethiopian duo of Melknat Wudu and Mizan Alem of Ethiopia but the latter were disqualified for an infringement.

Cheptoo alongside her compatriot Maureen Cherotich cut a rather a dejected figure after the race after watching their hopes of getting a medal go up with the smoke.

However, after the two were confirmed to have erred on the track, Cheptoo burst out of the mixed zone to give a lap of honor much to the delight of the Kenyan team.

Alem clocked 16:05.61 while Cheptoo timed 16:29.44. Carla Dominguez of Spain won bronze after crossing the line in 16:45.79.

An elated Cheptoo the decision by the technical officials to turn fortunes into her favor caught her by surprise as she left the track in disappointment after finishing out of the top three bracket.

"I am happy! I did not even expect this. The race was tough but I held on despite the stiff competition. This was my first time representing Kenya and I did not have the experience. I was very disappointed not get to the podium at first. The officials followed me on the tunnel after the silver was confirmed and I could not believe it," she said.

Alem had the best time before the race bagen as she had previously timed 14:46.20 while Chesang of Uganda had the second best time of 15:05.39.

India's Ankita tried to fire the race into a relatively fast speed in the first lap after the pack began at a slow pace but none was interested in closing in on her.

She wore off with ten laps to go, with Alem taking initiative with Cheptoo right behind her.

With eight laps to the bell, Maureen Cherotich who had elected to race from behind joined her compatriot and Alem with the Ugandan duo of Chesang and Scarlett Chebet larking from few yards.

The two home girls would go ahead with six laps to go, increasing the pace in a bid to pull clear of the four other athletes who had clustered around them.

However, Alem and Wudu remained hot on their heels and went ahead with four laps to go in a pace which saw Cherotich drop off the chasing pack.

Kenya's hopes of a medal were put off when Cheptoo also ran short of vigour leaving the two Ethiopians and Chesang to dominate the remaining laps.