Kenya clinched its first medals at the 18th edition of the World Athletics Championship in Oregon,USA after Hellen Obiri and Margaret Chelimo won Silver and Bronze respectively in the women’s 10,000m final.

Obiri who has now added a silver to her two world titles won in 5,000m and clocked a personal best of 30.10.02 to finish second behind winner Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey who had to overcome Kenya’s twin attack to emerge victorious in 30:09.94.

Gidey who holds the world record over the distance recorded a world leading time as she won her first major world title in style.

Kenya’s Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi, a silver winner in 5,000m in Doha wound up third in a personal best of 30:10.07.

Olympic and defending world champion Hassan of the Netherlands, who has barely been seen on the track this year as she took time off to recover from her stupendous but draining 2021, ran out of gas in the final straight to finish fourth.

“The dream came true, this victory is even more important to me than a world record,” Gidey said. “I was thinking about winning this gold since 2019 but Hassan was always there. I was also watching Obiri. This time, I was really watching them and I knew I had to be very fast in the last 300m.”

Kipyegon and Chebet qualify for finals

Double Olympic Champion Faith Kipyegon stayed on course for another world title after qualifying for the finals of the women’s 1,500m race.

Kipyegon who last won the world title in 2017 in London will face off with among other compatriot and African champion Winny Chebet who also breezed through to the finals.

Kipyegon clocked 4:03.98 to win her semi final heat while Chebet qualified as one of the fastest losers afterr she finished 6th in her qualifying round.

The finals is scheduled Monday. Kipyegon holds the fastest time among the finalists having run 3.52.59 this season.Ethiopias’s Gudaf Tsegay who won bronze at the 2019 is among the race’s favourites.