Kenya took the mantle of leadership at the ongoing IAAF World Championships on Tuesday with two golds, one of which was a historic 400m hurdles and a silver.
Former volleyball player turned athlete, Nicholas Bett, won the country's first ever medal in the hurdles race in a world leading time of 47.79 seconds.
"I believe my volleyball background has played a great role in my victory since running in lane eight did not worry me at all," Bett of police team said.
"The medal is a present for my twin babies," the runner who trains himself at the Safaricom Kasarani stadium said.
Bett's colleague in the 400m hurdles, Boniface Mucheru finished 5th in 48.33. Russian Denis Kudryavtsev took silver in a national record time of 48.05 and the bronze went to Bahamas' Jeffery Gibson in48.17, also a national record.
The 800 metres world record holder and Olympic champion David Rudisha ran a race of his life because he wanted to win a gold for his second child who is expected soon.
"I am expected my second child in a few weeks and this medal will be a present," said Rudisha, who clocked 1:45.84, adding that he controlled the race to a slow pace as agreed with his colleagues Alfred Kipketer and Ferguson Rotich.
Rotich who was billed as one of the gold medal contenders looked so unhappy after the event. Rudisha did not think the slow speed played to the other Kenyans' poor results.
Silver went to Adam Kszczot of Poland in 1:46.08 and bronze taken by Amel Tuka of Bosnia and Herzegovina, foirst ever medal for his country, in 1:46.30.
Faith Chepngetich overcame a last effort by Sifan Hassan of Netherlands to win silver for her "boyfriend" in the 1500m women final.
She opted to have the identity of the friend remain unknown when asked who it was.
The gold was won by world record holder Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia who clocked 4:08.9 against Chepngetich's 4:08.96. Hassan was timed at 4:09.34.
The results changed the mood of Kenyan who had become worried after one of its 400m women semi-finalist, Joyce Zakari failed to appear for the first heat of the semis.
No clear explanation was forthcoming from the Team Kenya camp and head coach Julius Kirwa could only say he wanted to "find out from the team doctor what happened to the runner who ran a national record in the preliminary round of the one lap event at the National Stadium, Beijing.
"I need to talk to the doctor before I can speak authoritatively", Kirwa said at the stadium.
The other 400m representative Maureen Jelagat bound out after finishing last in her heat. She managed 19th overall position in 51.92 secs.
FAILED TO ADVANCE
Kenyans failed to advance in the men 200m after they were eliminated in the first round. Mike Mokamba finished 5th in the first heat thus bidding the competition goodbye. Carvin Nkanata finished fourth in heat four in 20.43 to also bow out. This heat was won by American Justin Gatlin in 20.19 sec.
Kenyan who were eliminated said the competition acted as their learning curve and will change their training regimes to do better in future.
Tuesday's results bring Kenya medal tally to four gold three silver and two bronze. Gold are from Ezekiel kemboi (3000m steeple chase) Rudisha, 800m, Bett 400m hurdles and Vivian Cheruiyot women 10,000m.
Silvers were by Conseslus Kipruto (3000m S/C), Chepngetich, 1500m women and Geffrey Kamworor in 10,000m.
Bronze were by Paul Tanui in 10,000m and and Brimin Kipruto in steeple chase.
The gold was won by world record holder Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia who clocked 4:08.9 against Chepngetich's 4:08.96. Hassan was timed at 4:09.34.
The results changed the mood of Kenyan who had become worried after one of its 400m women semi-finalist, Joyce Zakari failed to appear for the first heat of the semis.
No clear explanation was forthcoming from the Team Kenya camp and head coach Julius Kirwa could only say he wanted to "find out from the team doctor what happened to the runner who ran a national record in the preliminary round of the one lap event at the National Stadium, Beijing.
"I need to talk to the doctor before I can speak authoritatively", Kirwa said at the stadium.
The other 400m representative Maureen Jelagat bound out after finishing last in her heat. She managed 19th overall position in 51.92 secs.
