Obiri back to bury 10K setback in Doha

Obiri back to bury 10K setback in Doha

Philip Muchiri in Doha, Qatar

With no medal on offer today for team Kenya, Day Six will be an easy day out for the Kenyan boys and girls who will be taking part in three different qualifying events.

World 5000m Championship Helen Obiri will be defending her title here in Doha as the 12 and a half laps race get under way today from 18:25 hrs.

Obiri who failed to impress at her Worlds 10,000m debut on day two here in Qatar, had kept everyone guessing about her availability, but Athletics Kenya public relations officer, Evans Bosire confirmed that she will be at Khalifa international stadium for the semi finals.

“Yes she will be there,” He affirmed

Obiri managed a personal best of 30:35.82, to finish fifth in a race won by Dutch, Sifan Hassan a 1,500m specialist.

 Also in the race is national 2017, 5000m Champion Lilian Kasait and Margaret Kikemboi, who is in Doha to make amends after failing to register a podium finish in London 2017.

But before then at 17:35 Hrs another world champions Faith Chepng’etich Kipyegon, makes a comeback at the Worlds after more than one year on maternity leave which followed the London 2017 exploits.

Kipyegon, the 2016 Rio Olympic champion, came back in style at the seventh round of 2019 Diamond league the Prefontaine Classic, on June 30, winning the 1,500m in 3:59.04, only one year after giving birth.

The youngster finished in a 61 seconds final lap to take the win against a very strong field of women, including Canadian 1,500m standout Gabriela DeBues-Stafford, 2018 American 1,500m champion Shelby Houlihan and Olympian and World Championship finalist Laura Muir.

She will be partnered by Winny Chebet, Judy Chepng’etich and Sela Busienei.

The last Kenyan on track on day six will be National 400m champion Mary Moraa the sole Kenyan in search for a place in the final.

“My target was to qualify for the finals and it still stands and I have high hopes,” she told citizen digital.

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Helen Obiri Doha 2019 IAAF World Championships

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