This archive report was first published on 13 September 2019.
On Friday, the national athletics trials for the World Championships at Nyayo National Stadium witnessed a thrilling comeback by reigning world and Olympics 1,500m champion Faith Chepng'etich, who sent a strong signal that she is back and ready to defend her title at the World Championships in Doha from September 27 to October 6.
Published on September 13, 2019, Chepng'etich gave athletics fans a glimpse of her good form, which saw her stage a solo run to beat Great Britain's Laura Muir, Ethiopia's Genzebe Dibaba, and Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands to the gold medal at the 2017 World Championships in London when she won the women's 1,500m race in 4 minutes, 03.22 seconds.
She was followed by 2013 World Championships semi-finalist Winny Chebet (4:03.23), Sela Jepleting (4:05.20), and Judy Chepng'etich (4:06.99) in the women's 1,500m race. Chepng'etich and Chebet were named in Team Kenya that reports to Kasarani for residential training this Sunday.
Another comeback tale was that of women's 2013 World champion in women's 800 metres race, Eunice Sum, who timed 1:58.99 to finish second in the two-lap race. Sum will team up with Jackline Wambui, who timed 1:58.79 to win the race, in the hunt for medals in Doha.
World champion in men's 1,500m Elijah Manangoi skipped the trials, but his younger brother George Manang'oi made a memorable debut, finishing third in the men's 1,500m race. George timed 3:37.00 to finish behind winner Timothy Cheruiyot (3:34.91) and second-placed Ronald Kwemoi (3:36.61). Elijah, George, Cheruiyot, and Kwemoi will represent Kenya in Doha.
