BIRMINGHAM, March 2, 2018 - The mood on theopening day of the World Indoor Championships at the Arena Birmingham was lesshappy for Kenya in the women's 3000m final as the reigning 5000m World ChampionHellen Obiri failed to take home a medal on Friday evening.
It’s not enough, you know,” Obiri said.“It’s a shame it has happened now but I can’t do anything about it. I’m tryingto not get too down. I would have loved to be part of that battle at the end,so that is the real shame.”
For the first time, the decorated athletefloundered within sight of the prize, forced out front for the opening fewlaps, but she soon allowed others to trickle past. As at the bell, Muir of aGreat Btitain perked up, and with a burst of energy ran past KonstanzeKlosterhalfen of Germany, with Ethiopia's Genzebe Dibaba streaking away for thegold, the battle for the remaining medals became a scrappy affair, but down thebackstretch, it was clear Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands had done enough forthe silver, leaving Obiri to settle for forth place in a time of 8:49.66
“I did the best I could,” she said later.“I’m happy with my performance. It might not be a medal, but I definitely gaveit everything I had. My body was not responding well. The race was unusuallyslow and to catch up for me was hard."
Obiri was looking to end the six yeardraught in the 3000m event as Kenya through Obiri last won the Women's worldIndoor 3000m title during the 2012.
"My transition from the cross countryto the Indoor track has not been smooth, so many sharp bends in Birmingham and my contenders were well preparedfor this. From this, am going back to the drawing board and I am confident Iwill register impressive results in the upcoming outdoor events," addedObiri
Obiri, who won silver in the 3,000m at 2014World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland, losing her title to EthiopianGenzebe Dibaba now shifts focus to the 2018 Commonwealth Games which will beheld at Gold Coast, Australia.
"I will be back to claim this title in2020 and possibly break the world record before I hang my spikes," the 27 year old added.
Team
Men: Vincent Kibet (1,500m), BethwellBirgen, Davis Kiplagat (3,000m)
Women: Margaret Nyairera (800m), BeatriceChepkoech (1,500m, Hellen Obiri (3,000m).
