Josphat Bett Kipkoech wins in Liège on 15 July 2009 (© Nadia Verhoft)
World Junior 10,000m champion Josphat Bett Kipkoech defeated a strong field in the 3000m at the Meeting of the Province of Liège on Wednesday night (15). The 20-year-old Kenyan talent set a personal best of 7:42.38 to win the race.
Fellow Kenyans Philemon Kimutai and Joseph Kosgei set a very fast early pace, and the leading group of 10 athletes broke apart as the race unfolded. When Boniface Kirui accelerated with two laps to go only three athletes were left in contention, and Josphat Bett Kipkoech ended up the fastest sprinter ahead of Jacob Chesari and Boniface Kirui.
“This is a surprise win for me, because my opponents are the stronger and more experienced athletes,” said Josphat Bett Kipkoech. “I smashed my PB by almost 9 seconds today and that is very exciting. Although I’m the 10,000m World Junior champion my future lies in the 5000m. But I’m still young, I want to take on my career step by step.”
Kgosiemang beats Williams in the High Jump
The men’s High Jump was the most awaited event of the meeting with a handful of athletes on the infield capable of jumping 2.30m. African champion Kabelo Kgosiemang from Botswana was the most convincing competitor of the day as he cleared 2.27m by a large margin. But as a matter of fact his only remaining rival Jesse Williams from the USA had the better attemps at 2.30m.
“I wanted to jump 2.30m today,” said Williams, “but they were close misses. I felt a bit tired after competing in Athens. It is true that I’m having a great season, I feel that I’ve been maturing as a jumper. I’m getting older and I’m learning how to jump better and better. It’s a pity that I finished fourth in the US trials and that I won’t be at the World Championships. But I want to prove in my next competitions that I am one of the best High Jumpers in the World.”
American Renee Baillie beat four compatriots to win the women’s 5000m in 15:20.53. Another US-athlete Thornton Kirkland set his PB in the 110m Hurdles in 13.42sec. Aziz Zakari from Ghana won the men’s 100m in 10.27sec and Laverne Jones from the Virgin Islands was the fastest woman in 11.28sec ahead of Tahesia Herrigan and Yuliya Nestyarenka.
And almost 6000 spectators cheered local wins from Kevin Rans in the Pole Vault with 5.63m and from Eline Berings in the 100m Hurdles in 13.01.
Ivo Hendrix for the IAAF
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