Stacy Ndiwa bags Kenya her first silver at Commonwealth 2018

Stacy Ndiwa on Monday won Kenya her first silver medal at the ongoing Commonwealth Games clocking 31 minutes,46.36 seconds in the 10,000m women race in Gold Coast, Australia.

Ugandan Stella Chesang bagged gold in 31:45.30, while her compatriot Mercyline Chelagat settled for bronze in 31:48.41, spoiling the party for Kenya.

Beatrice Mutai who was also a medal prospect did not live to her billing coming a distant fourth in 31:49.81 as the other Kenyan competitor Sandrafelis Chebet finished a disappointing tenth  in 32:11.92, her personal best .

In a post race interview, Ndiwa hinted to Citizen Digital that she will soon try her luck in the half marathon in China though she did not specify the time.

“I believe we could have secured gold if we had broken off early.  All the same I’m contented with the silver. After this I will focus on trying to lower my personal best and if it works I will move to the road,”she said: “If it fails I will focus on the track which will help me with speed if eventually I graduate to road races.”

Chesang  who had sat at the back most of the pace and started moving to the front with a few laps remaining clocked 31:45.30  after benefiting rabit duties from the Kenyan runners. Her compatriot Marceline Chelangat gladly her joy after winning a bronze medal in 31:48.41.

“You denied us our first bronze medal in Chelf, Algeria during the Africa Cross Country it’s now our turn,” Chelangat teased Ndiwa during the post race interview at the Carrara Stadium.

Despite tumbling with three laps to go, Beatrice Mutai managed to keep touch with the leading pack to finish fourth with a PB of 31:49.81. Chebet fell off to the back after a strong start to also set a PB of 31:11.92 at position 10.

¢Chebet out of 1500m medal hunt

It was the end of the road for Winny Chebet after tripping and falling down  during the women’s 1500m heats last lap.

Chebet, the former 2006 World Junior 800m silver medalist appeal failed with the referees ruling that she tripped herself.

However, in the clip it shows that Chebet was tripped by Scotich Stephanie Twell who contacted her heal.

“I was doing well in the race so I felt someone step on me from behind. I tried to lift my leg but fell. I do not know who did it. So far I was strong if the appeal goes through I will be ready to fight for a medal tomorrow,” said Chebet after the heats.

Olympian Beatrice Chepkoech and Mary Wangari Kuria will represent Kenya during the 1,500m finals on Wednesday 11.

Chepkoech comfortably sailed through by winning the second heat in 4:08.29  while Kuria seat a season best of 4:06.58.

Boniface Mwereza and Collins Omae also bowed out of the of the medal pursuit in the men’s 400m.

Omae said that he had miscalculated the one lap race to clock 47.39 but was happy to have advances to the semis hoping for a better perfomance in the men’s 4X400m relay.