Here is Kenya’s summary at the World Athletics Championships

• Kenya finished fourth on the medal standings
• The country scooped 10 medals; two goals, six silver and two bronze
• Kenya lost several traditional races

Kenya finished a disappointing fourth at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, United States, a dip from the second spot finish from the previous edition in Doha, 2019.

Kenya managed 10 medals; two gold, five silver and three bronze in the 10-day championship.

Here is a summary of how Kenya’s championship went in Oregon.

The medals

Women’s 1500 Metres – Final – Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon, U.S. – July 18, 2022 Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon crosses the line to win the women’s 1500 metres final REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Gold:

Gold was evenly shared between the men and women with Faith Kipyegon earning victory in the women’s 1500m while Emmanuel Korir was victorious in the men’s 800m.

Kipyegon made history in Oregon, becoming the first woman to clinch four medals in successive World Championship events as she reclaimed gold, having lost the title in 2019 to Netherland’s Sifan Hassan.

Meanwhile, Olympic champion Korir ensured he doubled up with a world title, his first ever. It was third time lucky for Korir as he had failed to sparkle in his previous two attempts in 2017 and 2019.

Finally, he earned the title that he had long missed in his cabinet.

Silver:

Kenya’s men won two silver medals that to many, looked like gold. Stanley Mburu and Jacob Krop finished second in the 10,000m and 5,000m and what was most pleasant about these tow is the fact that they are both below 23.

Kenya has in the past World Championship editions not fared well in the two races but the two put up determined performances which makes the future look bright.

In the women’s races, Beatrice Chebet and Hellen Obiri also scooped silver in the corresponding races. Chebet was second in the women’s 5,000m, another victory for another athlete below 23 years.

The African champion not only ran a well calculated race, but showed bravery to compete against a loaded field.

Obiri meanwhile was inches away from gold, but a last push wasn’t enough as she was beaten to the line by Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey, who was aided by a little elbow thrown into Obiri’s path at the line.

The other silver for Kenya came in the women’s marathon where Judith Korir finished second. Korir was making her debut at the World Championships and the Paris Marathon champion ensured Kenya didn’t finish outside the medals like it happened in the men’s marathon.

Bronze

Mary Moraa, Margaret Chelimo and Conseslus Kipruto won bronze for Kenya.

Moraa clinched third place with a good performance in the women’s 800m. The 22-year made amends for disappointments from the Tokyo Olympic Games where she failed to reach the final. As a yiung athlete, she also proved that the future is bright.

Chelimo meanwhile earned bronze in that famous dip of the line finish in the women’s 10,000m, but it was her spirited run in the final 50m of the race that propelled her to a medal. She had lurked behind at almost fifth, but dug deep in her energy reserves to ensure she added to Kenya’s medal haul.

The misses

Soufiane El Bakkali glides to victory in the steeplechase at the World Championships

While Kenya enjoyed another harvest of medals, there were several disappointing performances and hopes dashed among events that Kenya had high hopes in.

In the men’s steeplechase, Kenya once again lost the title to Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali, who deflated the field to double up a Worlds crown on top of his Olympic Games conquest.

It was similar case in the women’s steeplechase where Celiphine Chespol finished out of the top 10 and the title went to Kenyan turned Kazakhstani Norah Jeruto.

Defending champion Beatrice Chepkoech missed out due to injury.

One of the complains that came from Kenyan athletes was the lack of a physio, which saw their recovery between races next to nil.

Kenya also failed to win the men’s 1500m title, a race that is predominantly Kenyan-dominated. Defending champion Timothy Cheruiyot and world leader Abel Kipsang both finished out of the medal places.

The men’s marathon was yet another disappointing outing for Team Kenya. On the eve of the race, Lawrence Cherono was expelled from the team due to a positive drugs test. Geoffrey Kamworor, who was the biggest medal prospect failed to sparkle.