Chris Mbaisi
23 March 2004
Brussels — ATHLETICS
After the world cross country championships here in Brussels, the message for Kenya was loud and clear: Go back to the drawing board.
After 18 years of dominance, Kenya lost the overall title to neighbouring Ethiopia. Kenya won one gold medal and a bronze, thanks to Edith Masai and Ernest Meli. Masai ensured she won her third consecutive title in the championship to become the first woman to attain such a feat.
Apart from Masai, the Ethiopians made the rest of the events their own, reducing Kenyans to what looked like beginners. Kenenisa Bekele was the toast of the championship as he struck his third double in a row. Bekele grabbed gold in both 12-km race and the 4-km.
His compatriot Gebremariam Gebre-agziab returned home with two silver medals in the same events. Sileshi Sihine had a bronze medal in the 12-km while Zewdie Maregu took a bronze in the short course.
The first Kenyan in the 12-km was the world 5000m champion, Eliud Kipchoge in fourth place with former 10,000m champion Charles Kamathi following in the fifth place.
The 4-km event was a disaster as newcomer Eliud Kirui came top in the sixth place. Favourites in the event Abraham Chebii and two-time champion John Kibowen failed to live upto the expectations. While Chebii strolled to unbelievable 19th position, Kibowen faded to the 30th position.
It was a sight to behold as the whole stadium struggled to come to terms with what may have happened. The runners complained of slippery and muddy conditions. Similarly, in the junior category, things did not go on as expected but Kenyans still managed a bronze, courtesy of Meli.
Ethiopia's Tedesse Meba reigned supreme and was followed by Uganda's Boniface Kiprop. Barnabas Kosgei finished fourth overall despite doing most of the donkey work.
The results in the women's 8-km, where very little was expected, shocked everybody. Although they did not win a medal, Alice Timbilil finished a credible fourth.
In fact, little experience seemed to have been her undoing as she would have gone ahead to win at least a bronze.
Fridah Domongole was ninth while former 10,000 m champion Saly Barsosio was 10th.
Even in the 6-km women's race, things didn't work out as the seemingly older Ethiopians outshone the Kenyan toddlers. Meselech Melkamu led an Ethiopian 1-2-3 finish in the event. Aliyu Aziza and Tedesse Mestawat were the other two Ethiopian medal winners in the event.
At the moment, Kenyans can only talk about the 4-km women's event where Isabella Ochichi finished fifth with upcoming Peninah Jepchumba in seventh place.
Vivian Cheruiyot and Jane Gakunyi were eigth and ninth respectively. Apart from the overall title, Ethiopia also won five team titles with Kenya taking the men's junior title.
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The Kenyan team arrive home this morning minus five athletes. The athletes include two-time world champion John Kibowen, Kiplimo Muneria, Sally Barsosio, Boniface Songok and Araham Chebii.
The five runners will be racing in a 5-km road race in London this weekend. The team left Brussels yesterday evening aboard British Airways and are expected in the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 8.00 am this morning.
All other runners including Edith Masai, who won her third consecutive title in the women's short race and bronze medallist in the junior men 8-km Ernest Meli will be on board.
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