“Finishing ahead of world champ Gidey beyond my wildest dreams,” – Kenya's Ngetich says of dramatic finale in Australia – Capital Sports

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 21 – Newly-crowned world cross country bronze medalist Agnes Ngetich says finishing ahead of world 10,000m champ Letesenbet Gidey was beyond her wildest dreams before she took to the course at Mount Panorama in Bathurst, Australia.

The 22-year-old clocked 0:34:00 to finish third in the senior women’s 10km race, behind winner and fellow countrywoman, Beatrice Chebet (0:33:48) and Ethiopian Tsigie Gebreselama (0:33:56), who finished second.

“I didn’t expect I would come third because it was my first time running for the senior team and the first time running 10km. I want to say thank you to those that prayed for me and to those who cheered me on. When I was with Gidey, I didn’t expect to get ahead of her,” Ngetich said.

Ngetich, whose last international race was a second place finish at the Brasov Running Festival in September last year, looked set to miss out on the podium as Ethiopia’s Gidey seemed primed for her first-ever gold medal in cross country.

However, with the Commonwealth Games 5000m champion Chebet catching up to her, the triple world record holder collapsed at the finish line to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

The dramatic turn of events offered Ngetich a chance at a first-ever medal in her career albeit she had been unsuccessful in pushing Gebreselama for silver.

Meanwhile, newly crowned junior men’s champion Ishmael Kipkurui and silver medalist Reynold Cheruiyot said they enjoyed running on the punishing course because they had undergone intense training in Embu.

Kipkurui, the national under 20 cross country champion, timed 0:24:29 as Cheruiyot, the World Under 20 1500m champion, came second in 0:24:30.

Ethiopian Boki Diriba, who had until the latter stages of the race been threatening Kenya’s chances of a 1-2 finish, clinched third place in 0:24:31.

“The course at the training camp where I have been with Team Kenya (Embu) has the same kinds of bends that we went through, especially the corners and we practice those angles. That has helped me to win in the end,” he said.

On the other hand, Cheruiyot says his eyes are now focused on next month where he will be kickstarting his track and field season in France.

“The course was somewhat hilly, the weather was good because I am used to hot weather. So I am not complaining about it. I am happy about my performance and I am looking forward for another event, which is due in France. Hope I will win a gold medal,” Cheruiyot said.

Kenya topped the medal standings with 10 (six gold, two silver and two bronze) and with it, won the team title relinquished at the last edition of the championships in Aarhus, Denmark in 2019.

The team are expected back in the country on Thursday morning at midnight.