NAIROBI, (Reuters) – Kenya’s world champion Vivian Cheruiyot won the 5,000 metres after a terrific last lap sprint with big Ethiopian rival Meseret Defar on the second day of the African Championships yesterday.
Her victory followed that of compatriot Wilson Kiprop in the 10,000 metres on Wednesday. Cheruiyot won in 16:18.72 with Defar second in 16:20.54.
Defar, a former world champion, took defeat honourably, telling reporters: “I think Vivian is terrific and I must congratulate her on her victory.”
Cheruiyot’s immediate plans are the Continental Cup in Croatia in September and the Commonwealth Games in October.
Ben Youssef Meite of Ivory Coast took the men’s 100 metres in 10.08 ahead of Ghana’s favourite Zakari Aziz in 10.12. The women’s 100 went to Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare.
Reporting by Jack Oyoo; Editing by Dave Thompson; To query or comment
