There was a Kenyan double in the Boys 3000m, the first track final this afternoon here in Ostrava as Daniel Lemashon Salel led compatriot Lucas Kimeli Rotich 7:57.18 to 7:59.67.
Morocco’s Hicham El Amrani out sprinted his elder compatriot Moussa Karich to claim the bronze medal in a personal best time of 8:00.98.
After South African Folavia Sehohle had a short lived lead in the first lap and a half, Rotich led a pack of seven athletes through the first kilometre timed in 2:43.49.
Salel took control of the race maintaining a similar tempo in the second kilometre covered in 2:42.40 and with four laps to go the leading group was already down to four: the two Kenyans and the two Moroccans with the quartet waiting until the bell to kick.
With one lap to go Salel was leading with El Amrani and Karich on his heels and Rotich closing the pack. Rotich was the first to make a move with 250 metres to go with Salel being the only one able to respond.
Not only did the eventual winner respond but he counter attacked and sped away an easy winner in a new personal best time.
LA
