It was onetwo for Kenya, as Gilbert Kipkurui Keter and Jackson Mumbwa Kivuna fought out the final metres of the boys’ 800 metres final, with Keter finally taking the honours in a new Championships record of 1:48.42.
The two broke away from the pack 150 metres out from the finish and turned the race into a sprint for the line, with South African Jan Masenamela and Shaka Ntsimako from Botswana vainly trying to hold on before being completely dropped by the Kenyan duo 60 metres out.
In the end it was Masenamela who outdipped Ntsimako at the line for the third place on the podium, with the Botswanan having to make do with running a new personal best of 1:49.76, against Masenamela’s time of 1:49.73.
Kenya have medalled in the 800 metres at all editions of the World Youth Championships, notably in the first edition, where Nicholas Wachiru became the first World youth champion in the event.
The previous Championships record was set in 2003 by Mohammed Al Sallhi of Saudi Arabia, with a time of 1:48.79.
