World Indoor Championships: Ejore carries Kenya’s medal hopes on tough Day 2

After a promising opening day for Kenya at the World Indoor Championships staged in Nanjing, China where four athletes- Lilian Odira, Noah Kibet, Alex Ngeno and Susan Ejore sailed into their respective 800m semi-finals and 1,500m final respectively, Day 2 was a tough outing as no Kenyan progressed to the next stage or won the finals staged on Saturday.
Odira, African 800m silver medalist was the first in action on Saturday’s morning session in the women’s 800m semis. The 25-year-old who had clocked 2:04.46 to finish second in Heat 1 on Friday behind Portugal’s Patricia Silva (2:04.44), failed to book a final spot after finishing last in Heat 1. Odira clocked 2:16.12 in a race won by Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma in 2:03.85.
Less than half an hour later, Kibet and Ngeno entered the track with the hopes of making it into the finals and raise Kenya’s hopes of medaling, but the hopes were shattered after they both finished fourth in Heats 1 and 3 respectively.
Kibet, a bronze medalist at the 2021 World Indoor championships in Belgrade stopped the clock at 1:48.90 in a race won by America’s Josh Hoey in 1:45.23. Ngeno on the other hand clocked 1:47.53 trailing behind race winner America’s Brandon Miller (1:46.84), Netherland’s Samuel Chapple (1:47.05) and Algeria’s Heithem Chenitef (1:47.30).
Both had finished second in their respective heats on Friday with Kibet timing 1:48.31 behind American Josh Hoey while Ngeno crossed the finish line in 1:48.17 with Czech Republic’s Jakub Dudycha winning in 1:48.04.
One could think the afternoon session could salvage something for Kenya but that didn’t pan as expected. All eyes were on Purity Kajuju Gitonga and Cornelius Kemboi as they took on big shots in the 3,000m.
Kajuju was eyeing a podium place in a race that yielded the only medal for Kenya in Glasgow last year, through steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, as she came up against big names including Australia’s Jessica Hull (an Olympic silver medalist) and Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu (a world indoor 1500m champion).
Just like her compatriots in the morning session, luck was not on her side as she finished a distance eighth after clocking 8:44.56 in a race dominated by the big guns. Hailu won the race in 8:37.21 as America’s Shelby Houlihan came in second in 8:38.26. Hull completed the podium after clocking 8:38.28.
In the men’s 3,000m race, Kenya’s sole competitor Kemboi- a 5,000m African bronze medalist, failed to handle the pressure and earn the nation her first medal at the ongoing championships. Although he set a new personal best with his 7:49.00, the effort was not enough even for a podium finish as he finished eighth.
Race favorite Norway’s Jakon Ingebrigtsen, a two-time Olympic champion won the race in 7:46.09- a season best. He was followed closely by Berihu Aregawi of Ethiopia who clocked 7:46.25 also a SB as Australia’s Ky Robinson completed the podium in 7:47.09.
Kenya’s hopes for a medal this time lies on Susan Ejore who will race in the women’s 1,500m final on Sunday at 3.54pm EAT. She will be up against a stack field comprising the Ethiopian duo of Gudaf Tsegay and Diribe Welteji.
America’s Heather Maclean and Georgia Hunter Bell from Great Britain will also pose threat to Ejore’s hopes of raising the Kenyan flag high. The race promises fireworks as the five ladies have a PB of under 4:03.
The United States-based runner clocked 4:12.41 in Heat 1 of the women’s 1500m on Friday afternoon to book her ticket in the final. Tsegay won the Heat after stopping the timer at 4:11.87, ahead of second-placed Sinclaire Johnson of the United States, who ran 4:12.18.
Others who made Team Kenya to Nanjing included Vivian Chebet, Dorcus Ewoi, Collins Kipruto and Festus Lagat failed to go past their respective heats. Chebet finished fourth in women’s 800m Heat 2 while Kipruto finished last in the men’s 800m Heat 2 as Lagat missed the semis after finishing third in the men’s 1,500m Heat 4 on Friday.