Kenya continues dominance at Beijing athletics worlds

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Kenya continued domination at the world athletics championships by winning two more golds on Wednesday.

Julius Yego won Kenya's first ever world title in field events and then his compatriot Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi claimed the women's 3,000m steeplechase and took Kenya's gold tally to six.

Yego's winning result of 92.72 meters was the third longest throw of all time and the longest since Jan Zelezny posted 92.80 in 2001.

It is the first time that Kenya, a nation known for its long distance dominance, has won a world title in a field event.

"I am so happy, I can't even express it. Being the world champion, being from Kenya, it is unbelievable for me. It is a nice prize for me, because I have really been working hard to win this championship," Yego said.

"Remember, in Moscow I almost won a bronze medal, but at the last throw a Russian athlete didn't let me win, but this time I came out strong," he added.

Egyptian Ihab Abdelrahman El Sayed took silver with 88.99m and Finland's Tero Pitkamaki, 2007 champion, had bronze with 87.64.

Jepkemoi of Kenya stormed to another impressive Kenyan victory later in the women's 3,000m steeplechase.

Jepkemoi timed nine minutes 19.11 seconds for the title while Tunisia's Habiba Ghribi settled for silver in 9:19.24.

Germany's Gesa Felicitas Krause ran a personal best of 9:19.25 for bronze.

"I think this victory will change my life for sure. My first big achievement, very unexpected. I'm very surprised and delighted. It was a very tactical and slow race but I like the fast finish," said Jepkemoi, who finished sixth in Moscow 2013.

"I want to encourage all the young ladies in Kenya to run this event. It's difficult but very tactical and traditional. I think Kenya can achieve amny medals in the future," she added.

In the last final held on the matchday 5, Wayde van Niekerk ran the fastest 400 meters since 2007 to become the first South African to win a world championship sprint title.

The 23-year-old started strong from the start and held off reigning champion La Shawn Merritt of the United States to claim the title in 43.48 seconds.

Van Niekerk was rushed to a nearby hospital after collapsing in exhaustion in the wake of the stunning victory.

Merritt won the silver in 43.65 while Olympic champion Kirani James of Grenada finished third in 43.78, his best run of the year.

Elsewhere, Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic won the women's 400 meters hurdles gold in 53.50 seconds while Yarisley Silva from Cuba won women's pole vault gold with 4.90 meters.

Kenya now leads the medal standings with a 6-3-2 record, with Britain and Jamaica trailing with three and two golds respectively.

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