A NIGHT of just rewards inside the old Olympic Stadium. By my calculations, they’ve now handed out 36 medals in the history of the men’s 3,000 metres steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships, and Kenyan-born athletes have won 23 of them.
Last night’s gold for Ezekiel Kemboi may well be the most cherished – and still it wasn’t as well received as the gold won by Steffi Nerius in the women’s javelin, or indeed that won by Sanya Richards in the 400 metres. So read on.
After four days of competition in Berlin, the 37-year-old Nerius claimed Germany’s first gold medal, and, despite her age, she did it the easy way. Her opening throw of 67.30 metres ultimately claimed her a first World title, having won bronze in the three previous editions of these championships.
“Unbelievable,” she said, and in many ways it was. Only two older women have won gold medals in these championships. Nerius now plans to retire, having finally achieved her just reward.
Still perhaps not as justified as Kemboi’s; he had won silver in the previous three editions of these championships.
This time, the 27-year-old Kenyan tore around the last lap with the look of a man no longer prepared to settle for second best. And he didn’t – winning gold in a championship record eight minutes 00.43 seconds, just a stride or two ahead of team-mate Richard Mateelong.
Bob Tahri of France managed to deny Kenya a clean sweep of the medals by taking third in an European record of 8:01.18, just ahead of Paul Koech.
But there was no denying Kemboi. Even by the great Kenyan standards he must be one of the smoothest steeplechasers in history, no doubt helped by the fact he’s coached by one Moses Kiptanui – the former three-time World champion.
“Now it is golden,” Kemboi said of his moment – which he celebrated by removing his vest and replacing it with a soccer jersey (he plays centre forward for his local team in Matira). “I just stayed patient this time, and finally reached my target. I knew the French runners would be strong but I’m so glad I managed it this time.”
It also turned out to be a night of just reward for Richards. Since 2005, the American has been the top-ranked women’s 400-metre runner in the world. On time, that is, not necessarily on performance. She failed to make the American team in the event two years ago, and only managed silver in 2005. Last year, at the Beijing Olympics, she was run out of it too, only managing bronze behind Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu.
It’s the oldest lesson in sport: try, try and try again. Last night, Richards fairly cruised to victory in 49 seconds flat, the fastest in the world this year, and a long way clear of Jamaica’s Shericka Williams, who took silver in 49.32. Ohuruogo couldn’t upset the form guide this time but still ran well to take fifth in a season’s-best 50.21.
“Finally, I own a major title,” said the 24-year-old Richards, who spent the first half of her life in Kingston, Jamaica. “To come here and win this title means the world to me. Finally the hard work has paid off. Before, I think I did have difficulties handling the pressure, but I think I came here a better overall athlete because of the failures of the past.”
There couldn’t be too much regret for Ohuruogu, who had never really been in gold medal contention this summer. By then, however, the British were already celebrating the gold for Phillips Idowu in the men’s triple jump. No stranger to upsets (he took a surprise silver in Beijing), Idowu this time upset both Portugal’s big medal hope Nelson Evora and the Cuban Alexis Copello thanks to his third round hop, skip and jump of 17.73 metres – the longest in the world this year.
The night ended with American Kerron Clement defending his 400 metres hurdles title with another world-leading time of 47.91. Former champion Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic was looking to regain some of his old form, but clipped the first hurdle, and ended up last in 50.11. Sometimes you don’t always get your just reward.
