By Peter Mwaura
Kenya finished second in the 2019 IAAF world athletics championship in Doha Qatar after collecting 11 medals to finish behind USA and 1 spot above Jamaica and china who are placed third and fourth respectively.
After 10 days of athletics action at the Khalifa Stadium in Doha Qatar, team Kenya successfully maintained its second spot in the world courtesy of scooping 11 medals to finish behind the USA who collected a total of 29 medals.
Ruth Chepngetich opened the medal account for team Kenya winning a gold medal in the women marathon before Beatrice Chepkoech, Helen Obiri, Timothy Cheruyoit and Conseslus Kipruto Added more gold’s for Kenya after reigning supreme in the 3000m steeplechase women, 5000m women, 1500m men and 3000m steeplechase men’s category.
Margret Chelimo Kipkemboi and Faith Kipyegon settled for silver in the 5000m and 1500 respectively with Ferguson Rotich, Rhonex Kwemoi, Amos Kipruto and Agnes Tirop securing bronze medals in the 800meters men, 10,000m men, men’s marathon and 10000m women.
Though Kenya struggled in most of its dominant disciplines, the team successfully finished at the second position with similar medal count as during the 2017 edition in London.
Similar to 2017, USA topped the medal standings with 29 medals with Jamaica moving up from the 15th in 2017 to finish 3rd with a total of 12 medals. China collected 9 medals to secure the 4th spot on the medal table as neighbours Ethiopia sealed the top five position with 8 medals.
With exciting action from the tracks and field events Mo Farah’s former coach Alberto Salazaar, 4 years ban by the USA anti-doping agency for doping violation is perhaps one of the hottest topics from the 2019 IAAF athletic championship with world 10,000m and 1500m champion Sifan Hassan of Netherlands closely involved by the virtue of Salazar coaching her.