American Centrowitz stuns as Kiprop misses out on gold

American Centrowitz stuns as Kiprop misses out on gold

Kenya missed out on the medals in the men 1500m where American Matthew Centrowitz caused a huge upset to take the gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics final.

Three-time world champion and overwhelming favourite, Asbel Kiprop (3:50.87) lost momentum in the final push for glory and ended sixth as compatriot Ronald Kwemoi who fell in the second lap finished last (3:56.76).

“It was a strange race, I don’t know what happened, it was too slow and everyone set themselves for the kick. I thought of going ahead to push the pace but they wouldn’t let me, they boxed me in.

“Anyway anyway it happens, its the Olympics, so everyone wants a medal and at least I have 2008,” the stunned Kiprop said.

The painfully slow final saw Centrowitz lead throughout from the 400m where he crossed in 1:06.83, then 800m at 2:16.59, 1200m at 3:12.00 before he sealed the glory in 3:50.00 after a 50.92 seconds after holding off the stiff challenge from defending champion, Taoufik Makhloufi.

The Algerian London 2012 winner who won the silver medal in the men 800m here in Rio came in for the second medal in 3:50.11 with New Zealand veteran, Nick Willis, coming up from sixth on the homestretch as Kiprop went backward for the bronze in 3:50.24.

Djibouti’s World Indoor champion, Ayanleh Souleiman almost got in the medals but left his surge a little too late as he rounded the top four in 3:50.29.

This was billed as the moment for Kiprop to reclaim the title he won at the 2008 Beijing Games having been injured in London where he finished last.

However, the lanky Kenyan settled at the back when the race started as the field decided to go for it at the finish.

Kwemoi tangled and tumbled on the homestretch coming up to 700m, heightening the tension before they started flying at the bell.

Kiprop tried to attack Centrowitz at the backstretch before Souleiman challenged for the lead, but the American saw it through to make history.

LEADING RESULTS

  1. 3056 Matthew CENTROWITZ USA 3:50.00
  2. 2009 Taoufik MAKHLOUFI ALG 3:50.11
  3. 2814 Nicholas WILLIS NZL 3:50.24
  4. 2317 Ayanleh SOULEIMAN DJI 3:50.29
  5. 2744 Abdalaati IGUIDER MAR 3:50.58
  6. 2682 Asbel KIPROP KEN 3:50.87
  7. 2349 David BUSTOS ESP 3:51.06
  8. 3051 Ben BLANKENSHIP USA 3:51.09
  9. 2038 Ryan GREGSON AUS 3:51.39
  10. 2191 Nathan BRANNEN CAN 3:51.45

Tags:

olympics Asbel Kiprop Rio 2016 Men 1500m Matthew Centrowitz

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