Fast-finishing Kiplagat stuns Masai
New Zealand's Kim Smith gives it a crack
With a burst of pace in the last 200m akin to that of a track race, Kenyan Florence Kiplagat stole the women’s World XC title from under the nose of long-time leader Linet Masai, her consolation was a team gold medal.
The early pace in the women’s race was incredibly fast and the lead group was down to around 20 athletes after the first kilometre, with New Zealander Kim Smith the only non-African athlete able to live with the pace.
Slow-starter Steph Twell bridged the gap to the lead group on the steep hill at the end of the second km, as Bahrain athlete Maryam Yusuf Jamal took a group containing Kenyan Florence Kiplagat and the now Dutch athlete Hilda Kibet through 2kms. Coming up to 3km and the compact group of 20 had slowed a little with Kiwi Smith taking them up the big hill for the second time. It was at this point that Twell seemed to struggle as she lost contact with the lead group.
A 5km the pace really picked up, as the might of Africa began to show their hands. Kenyan Masai opened up, stringing the whole field out, and was followed by most of her team. Once again the only runners able to live with the pace were the Ethiopians. On the hill at 6km the group was 6, 3 Kenyans, headed by Masai and 3 Ethiopians. This was to be the select group.
Coming into the last two kilometres Masai went really hard and had a 15m lead, the two Ethiopians tried to follow but simply couldn’t live with the young Kenyan. On the last hill she increased her lead and demonstrated why she is being heralded as the great Kenyan hope to challenge the Ethiopian distance runner supreme Tirunesh Diababa.
Then, wow!
Florence Kiplagat came from seventh going into the last lap and picked off athlete after athlete in the last two kilometres and with a burst that stunned her team mate, this amazing finishing speed took her past the long-time leader Masai with 200m to go and a 2 second win.
Steph Twell was the GB great hope coming into these championships – she will therefore be very disappointed with her 38th place.
Provisional results
Individual
1. Florence Jebet Kiplagat KEN
2. Linet Chepkwemoi Masai KEN
3. Meselech Melkamu ETH
4. Lineth Chepkurui KEN
5. Wude Ayalew ETH
6. Hilda Kibet NED
Team
1. Kenya
2. Ethiopia
3. Portugal
