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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday August 27, 2015
Kenya’s Jepkemoi wins women’s 3 000m steeplechase BEIJING, China (Reuters) - Hyvin Jepkemoi maintained Kenya’s monopoly of the 3 000-metre steeplechase when she proved to be tougher than all her rivals in a hardfought final lap to win the world title yesterday. Jepkemoi, 23, produced a sub-66 seconds in the last 400 and had to battle off the final barrier against the favourite, Tunisia’s Habiba Ghribi, and Germany’s Gesa Krause, to take Kenya’s sixth gold of the Beijing championships in 9 minutes 19.11 seconds. Ghribi, the runner-up at the 2012 London Olympics and 2011 world championships, had to settle for silver once more as the Kenyan passed on her outside. Ghribi clocked 9:19.24, to Krause’s bronze-winning 9:19.25, a personal best. “I think this victory will change my life for sure,” Jepkemboi told reporters. “It is my first big achievement and is very unexpected. I am very surprised and delighted.”The first half of the race was slow, with only a front-running effort by Lalita Babar of India picking up the pace towards the final km. Into the final 600, American Emma Coburn made a bid for glory but, as the bell for the final lap rang, Ghribi took up the running towards a title which many had thought was a
foregone conclusion. However, as the Tunisian took the final water barrier in conventional style, with one foot on the barrier, Jepkemoi hurdled the obstacle and forced herself past her rival. As Coburn faded over the final half-lap, eventually placing fifth, the three medallists came off the final fence in line but it was Jepkemoi, sixth in the world final in Moscow two years ago, who was the strongest finisher this time. Ghribi said she was disappointed that the race had been “a bit slow at the beginning”. “I didn’t think it would go that way. Nobody wanted
Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi of Kenya reacts as she crosses the finish line next to Habib Ghribi of Tunesia and Gesa Krause (R) of Germany in the women’s 3 000m steeplechase final during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China, yesterday. (Reuters/Lucy Nicholson) to run. I tried to win the final sprint but the Kenyan was faster. I’m still proud,” Ghribi added.
Guyana to participate at GVF Indoor Championship in Peru LOCAL volleyball has been getting a much-needed boost recently and is now making moves in the right direction to be soon recognised as one of the premier sports in Guyana. Through its affiliation to the CSV (South American Volleyball Confederation) and under the stewardship of president John Flores, the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) is benefiting from a number of international engagements and showing that volleyball can become a sport to help bring recognition to Guyana on the international scene. On the heels of a recently concluded South American Beach Volleyball tournament held in Ecuador, where Guyana was represented by two teams and managed to pull off an upset victory against a much higher rated Peru team, the local men are now in preparation for the CSV male indoor championship to be held in Maceio, Brazil from September 27 to October 5. In preparation for their upcoming international engagement the national selectors, led by long-standing senior and junior national coach Levi Nedd, have shortlisted 21 players from Demerara and Berbice who have commenced training today under newly appointed assistant national coach Ian Wills. Wills will conduct practice sessions for the Demerara-based players, while the Berbice players will go through their paces under the guidance of Nedd.
Meanwhile, the GVF president expressed his satisfaction with the direction which the sport is going and pledged his commitment to continue utilising the relationship that the local federation has developed with the CSV for the benefit of the sport’s development. The Federation also an- GVF president nounces that preparation is John Flores under way to host a Volleyball Cooperation Programme sponsored by the Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB). The course will be facilitated by Julio Morales, a FIVB international coach out of the USA and is set for September 5-9 at the National Gymnasium. The players shortlisted are: Wendell Austin, Corwyn Richards, Trevlon McRae, Quacy Matheson, Jamal Duncan, Shemroy Ross, Creston Rodney, Ian Bagott, Jason Seelochan, Beepaul Bandoo, Akeem Bowling, Adriel Moore, Errol Fingal, Luen David, Devendra Latchman, Vance Harding, Khemraj Singh, Xavier Lambert, Joshua Jagmohan and Samuel Fraser
Britton pips Hickerson for senior TT title SHEMAR Britton defeated a valiant Orin Hickerson to take the senior title of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Summer Challenge Tournament. Britton, playing some excellent tennis won the first set at 12-10 to start on the right note before Hickerson levelled with an 11-8 result in the second set. Britton would not be deterred though as he pushed on to win the final three sets 11-8, 11-8, 11-3 and to prevail by a 4-1 margin. Joint 3rd place went to Joel Alleyne and Edinho Lewis. ‘B’ CLASS OPEN In the ‘B’ Class Open final, the versatile and talented Kevon Corbin secured his maiden title when he defeated the talented Stefan Corlette in a fast-paced, counter-hitting match 2-10, 9-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-5 (3-2). Joint 3rd place went to the talented Elishaba Johnson and Jamal Duff who are now playing after completing CXC studies.
‘C’ CLASS OPEN In the ‘C’ Class Open final, the fast improving Nicholas Romain caused one of the biggest upsets of the tournament when he defeated Miguel Wong. En route to victory, Romain defeated Nevaeh Clarkston 15-13, 8-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-5 (3-2) in the final, while joint 3rd place went to Brandon Jaikarran and Jamaal Nicholas. Other winners include Tyriq Saunders (13 Years and Under Boys), Nevaeh Clarkston, (13 Years and Under Girls), Kaysan Ninvalle (11 Years and Under Boys), Thuraia Thomas (11 Years and Under Girls) and (Isaiah Charles) Novices Open. Up next for local racquet-wielders will be the GTTA-sanctioned Titans Play to Conquer Table Tennis Tournament, scheduled for August 29 and 30. and coordinated by Titans Table Tennis Club, at the National Gymnasium.
For 23-year-old Krause, the bronze medal was “super good”. “This is the biggest suc-
cess of my career. This is the most beautiful present for me.”
‘Obeahman’ continues comeback trail with dominating performance GUYANA’S Raynauth `Obeahman’ Jeffrey continued his come-back trail with another dominating performance at the Mango Seed Restaurant – W.S United Graveyard Series - on Sunday at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, NY. In races that are typically won by sprinters, Jeffrey once again proved otherwise by destroying the field in his typical trademark fashion in a solo victory by a sizeable Raynauth Jeffrey margin. According to Guyana Cycle News, the top six was an all-Guyanese/Trinidad affair, with the remaining spoils going to Guyana’s Scott Savory, Adam Alexander (TT), Alanzo Greaves, Jermaine Burrowes and the evergreen Godfrey Pollydore. With the Caribbean Championship and the World Championship Under-23 on the horizon, Jeffrey is staking his claim for a place on both teams by showing his form is rapidly on the rise. Though he is hampered by an aching back and troublesome knee injury, fast-man Godfrey Pollydore is looking to add a few victories to his clutch of top 10 finishes in New York. Pollydore explained that his love for the sport kept him on the bike after he had travelled to New York for employment. Currently he is juggling training and work and is making the best of his opportunities. Over the weekend also, national road race champion and Jeffrey made their debuts at the 32nd annual Chris Thater Memorial Race (Highest Level Crit) in the USA and the Team Coco’s duo raced well and gained valuable experience. In the end, Eastman finished 37th while Jeffrey did not finish the 72-lap event. Christopher Holder (Team Coco’s) raced in the category 2/3 event and placed 12th The event was won by Carlos Alzate (United Healthcare Pro Cycling Team) Ryan Aitcheson (Astellas Cycling Team) placed second and Martin Reinert (Germany) place third to complete the podium. The riders are expected to be in action on Sunday in race two of the Chris Thater Memorial.