2015 World Championships
Julius Yego is the first athlete to win a Gold medal for Kenya in the field events. Photo Credit: Making of Champions/PaVmedia

We used to think that the Kenyans are just dominant in the long distance races, but the 2015 World Championships in Beijing has taught us that they are now ready to take over the whole of Athletics.

Who would have believed that a Kenyan athlete would emerge as a World Champion in Javelin, not to talk of setting records in it. Julius Yego stunned the world to win GOLD on Wednesday, and he did it in style winning with a monster throw of 92.72m, thereby becoming his country’s first ever athlete to win a world title in a field event.

2015 World Championships
Not just the long distance events, Kenya is taking over even in Javelin. Photo Credit: Making of Champions/PaV media.

Egypt’s Ihab Abdelrahman EL Sayed only got two throws on the board, but it was enough to take Silver with his 88.99m achievement, as Tero Pitkamaki claimed Bronze throwing his best of 87.64m

Yego came out strongly in his third attempt, having thrown 82.42m in his second attempt. Filled with belief as he launched the spear in the air like a missile as he himself crashed on the tartan, but he wouldn’t mind seeing where the Javelin landed, way more than his previous Personal Best (PB).

This is not the first time that Yego has gone past the 90m mark this season. He became the World Leader this year when at the Birmingham Diamond League he threw an astonishing 91.39m. That then was an African Record, but with his latest achievement, he has now further increased the continent’s record, and he is now the third highest ranked athlete in the all-time list.

Yego’s throw today is the farthest by any athlete in the last 14 years, and who knows, it could be a matter of time before he matches Jan Železný World Record of 98.48.

As if Kenya haven’t stated enough their intent in this championships, Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi added another GOLD to her country’s impressive tally when she won the women’s 3000m Steeplechase in 9:19.11.

2015 World Championships
Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi won GOLD in the women’s 3000m steeplechase to add to Kenya’s conquests so far. Photo Credit: Making of Champions/PaV media

That GOLD saw Kenya consolidate on their lead, and they now have 11 medals overall: 6 GOLDS, 3 Silvers and 2 Bronzes.

Jepkemoi ran a very tactical race despite looking like being out of contention in the last 110m, but she came back strongly, timing her run as she crossed the last barrier to nick the win. Tunisia’s Habiba Ghribi won Silver in 9:19.24 with Germany’s Gesa Felicitas Krause winning Bronze in 9:19.25.

If there was any doubt that these Championships could be Kenya’s for the taking, such has now been put to bed as the East Africans maintained their dominating with more GOLDs won on Wednesday.

 

Did You Know: 

Yego learned how to throw the Javelin by just watching Youtube videos of past throwers. In fact in some quarters, they call him the “Youtube-Man”.

 

2015 World Championships
At the end of Day 5, Kenya is now ahead of the pack and looks like they could win the 2015 World Championships. Photo Credit: Making of Champions/ PaV media

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Athletics coverage was a discovery, having to move away from regularly writing about Football. Although it was initially daunting, but now being an authority in it makes the past effort worthwhile. From travelling on the same international flight with Nigerian athletes, to knowing you could easily interview: World Record holder Tobi Amusan, then Ese Brume, I have cut my teeth in this beat earning the trust of Athletics sources. Formerly the Content Manager-Sports at Ringier media Nigeria, Chris is a Senior Sports writer, Photographer & Community manager at Making of Champions.

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