NAIROBI, Kenya, August 7 – Wycliffe Kinyamal put in a brilliant run on Sunday night, leading from start to finish to successfully defend his 800m crown at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The Kenyan, who was the lone ranger in the two-lap race, hit the ground running down the stretch, accelerating with emphatic pace to get around a challenge from Australian Peter Bol, and cruised to victory in 1:47.52.
He managed to hold off a late surge from the lanky Bol who took silver in 1:47.66 while England’s Ben Pattison won bronze in third place in 1:48.25.
Wycliffe Kinyamal triumphs to win the men’s 800m title at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. PHOTO/Kelly Ayodi
Kinyamal had started by running directly in front and kept his position well secured, with a meter between him and the chasing team.
When the bell rang Bol tried to take the lead but the Kenyan resisted, staying ahead and starting to inject some pace.
Down the stretch, he put his foot down and fired up the afterburners, running the final 100m with determination written on his face. He seemed tired of heading for the line, but Bol’s late effort to snatch the gold from him was unsuccessful.
Earlier, Kenya failed to claim a single medal in the women’s 1500m as Edinah Jebitok finished ninth and African champion Winny Chebet was last on the list.
The two Kenyans did not respond to a final kick from local girl Laura Muir, who won in a time of 4:02.75, while Northern Island’s Ciara Mageean was second for silver and Australia’s Abbey Cladwell third for bronze.
Source: www.capitalfm.co.ke