Harambee Starlets players during a sit in at the South African High Commission in Nairobi on July 15. PHOTO/Twitter

NAIROBI, July 15- National women’s team Harambee Starlets staged a sitting in the South African High Commission in Nairobi on Wednesday after their travel visas were delayed ahead of Saturday’s Rio 2016 Olympics away qualifier against Banyana Banyana.

Kenya qualified to play against the African women football giants after eliminating Botswana on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate score over both legs following a 1-0 home victory.

A bitter Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President, Sam Nyamweya, informed Capital Sport the delay was baffling since they had applied for them on time.

“We don’t know what is happening with them. We applied for the Visas last week and we were expecting to get them today (Wednesday). We give them visas here when they travel and I don’t understand why they have to force us to apply.

“Something should be done. It means we are not going tomorrow (Thursday) and we have to book a special flight at extra costs on Friday,” Nyamweya stated.

It is reported the Embassy wanted to issue the visas on Friday leaving the Starlets with only hours upon arrival to take on the pitch against their more fancied hosts.

“This is a national team with proper documentation and treating them this way raises a lot of suspicion of their intentions,” the FKF boss lamented.

“We have had problems with South Africa before, this is not the first time,” he went on.

-Story Developing

Britain’s Christopher Froome (C) rides in the pack during the 11th stage of the Tour de France on July 15, 2015, between Pau and Cauterets, southwestern France. PHOTO/AFP

CAUTERETS, July 16- Tour de France leader Chris Froome has challenged his detractors to prove he has been doping before making unsubstantiated accusations against him.

The 30-year-old has had to put up with a barrage of questions about doping since a stunning victory on the Tour’s 10th stage on Tuesday, when he decimated his rivals to open up an almost three-minute lead over the rest of the field.

With several other mountain stages still to come, some people believe Froome could end up winning this year’s race by a landslide.

It means he’s had to fend off questions about his legitimacy while someone allegedly hacked his Sky team’s computers and stole some training data which was then published on the internet.

“Those people should come and see us train, see how hard we work and see how I live my life,” said a defiant Froome following Wednesday’s 11th stage, in which he maintained his lead.

“Then tell me I’m not clean!”

He added: “People should have some proof before they start making accusations.”

A video of Froome’s famous victory on Mont Ventoux during his 2013 Tour-winning year was published on the internet showing that his heart-rate remained stable at 160 beats per minute despite him accelerating away from his rivals.

Many people reacted incredulously to that, believing it to be impossible.

But Froome dismissed any such concerns.

“I’ve put that data out there myself in my book. I said my maximum heart-rate is only 170,” said the Kenyan-born rider.

“After two weeks of the Tour on Ventoux it’s quite surprising it’s 160, it’s normally a bit lower than that.

“That’s normal, two weeks into a Grand Tour, 10 beats off my maximum when I’m going as hard as I can — for me anyway.”

Sky manager Dave Brailsford has been at pains to try to demonstrate that his team is clean but, like Froome, he said the suspicions were to be expected.

“I think with the past we’ve had in cycling, it’s reasonable,” he said.

“My job is to be here, be open, speak to everyone, take responsibility.

“We’re a team trying to be at the front of everything (anti-)doping.

“It’s normal that people ask questions, my job is to be here, be open and answer those questions.”

– Gallopin surprise –

Brailsford also pointed out that the gaps between Froome and some lesser lights on Tuesday’s stage were nothing to be alarmed about, quite the opposite in fact.

Tony Gallopin, a Frenchman not noted for his climbing ability, and Adam Yates, a 22-year-old Briton riding his first Tour de France, both finished just two minutes behind Froome.

But because the likes of reigning champion Vincenzo Nibali and two-time former winner Alberto Contador lost 4min 25sec and 2min 51sec respectively, tongues started wagging.

It was perhaps exacerbated amongst the locals by French hopes Jean-Christophe Peraud, Thibaut Pinot and Romain Bardet — second, third and sixth respectively last year — losing between five-and-a-half and ten minutes.

“The surprise was the performance of the others, which wasn’t to the level we expected,” said Brailsford.

“It’s true Chris had a good day but the others weren’t really on top form.”

And in a pointed remark to French accusers, he added: “The big performance (on Tuesday) was Gallopin coming seventh (actually ninth, he’s seventh overall).

“He had a great performance, or young Adam Yates did great (finishing seventh). We didn’t see a great Contador or Nibali but (Nairo) Quintana was ok, if not brilliant.”

Quintana finished just over a minute behind Froome to leave him third overall at 3min 09sec — maybe he is the only rider with any chance of denying Froome a second Tour crown.

The Boys’ 1500m heat action during the opening day of the Cali World Youtch Championships. PHOTO/IAAF

NAIROBI, July 16- Kenya started her 9th IAAF World Youth Championships campaign on a silver lining as the medal chase opened on Wednesday night in Cali, Colombia.

Emily Chebet Kipchumba and Sheila Chelangat were forced to accept the second and third medals by Ethiopia’s Shuru Bulo in the girls’ 3000m final.

Kenya surrendered a title they have held in six of the previous eight editions in the event’s history during the first distance running showdown between the East African archrivals as Ethiopia shot to the summit of the early medal table.

Lilian Kasait Rengeruk was the outgoing champion with Commonwealth 5000m champion, Mercy Cherono, still holding the championship record when she won the World Youth crown in 8:53.94 at the 2007 edition in Ostrava.

It was surprising the girls’ 3,000m title went to an Ethiopian, though the fact it was relatively unheralded Shuru Bulo who sprinted to victory in 9:01.12 – and not her favoured teammate Letesenbet Gidey – proved one of the biggest upsets on day one of the Cali World Youth.

Kipchumba, with Chelangat running on her shoulder, raced straight to the front and took the field through 1000m in a steady 3:01.38.

At that point, the Ethiopians were content to play the waiting game, Gidey sheltering on the inside behind the Kenyans with Bulo running alongside her.

Japan’s Yuka Mukai, Australia’s Annabel McDermott and Bahrain’s Fatuma Chebsi were the only three who went with the East Africans, but by the time the leaders reached 2000m in 6:05.53, they had already drifted back.

With 600 metres to run, Bulo showed her hand for the first time, passing Chelangat and running together with Kipchumba at the front.

As they reached the bell, Kipchumba began pouring on the pace, trying her best to lead every step of the way.

Though her effort soon had Gidey and teammate Chelangat in trouble, it had little effect on the smooth-striding Bulo, who clung to Kipchumba’s shoulder as they entered the back straight for the final time.

With 200 metres to run, Bulo finally changed gears and swept past Chebet, who briefly tried in vain to go with the Ethiopian.

In the end, though, the turn of pace was simply too much and Bulo came home a clear winner in 9:01.12, a 2015 world youth leading time.

She becomes just the second Ethiopian to triumph in this event, after Gotyom Gebreslase four years ago in Lille.

After all her front-running, Kenya’s national junior champion Kipchumba was rewarded with a silver medal for her efforts, finishing in 9:02.92.

The battle for bronze was won by Chelangat, who edged world junior cross country champion Gidey in the run to the line, 9:04.54 to 9:04.64.

-Favourites breeze-

Favourites Sandra Felis Chebet and Celliphine Chepteek Chespol led the queue to the girls’ 2000m steeples chase final on Friday after victoriously breezing through their heats as the men 1500m boys’ pair of Kumari Taki and Lawi Kosgei punched their tickets to the semis.

The boys’ 1500m heats went entirely to form with Ethiopia’s Mulugata Assefa looking comfortable when winning the first heat in 3:52.97, followed home by Kenya’s Lawi Kosgei (3:53.87) .

Kosgei’s compatriot Kumari Taki then won reversed matters and won the second heat in 3:48.71, with Ethiopia’s Welde Tufa (3:49.71) second.

Given this quartet’s pedigree and impressive showing in the heats, it would be a huge surprise if anyone else was among the medals.

-Encouraging sprints-

An encouraging showing in the sprints on Day 1 of the age global showpiece open to competitors limited to between 16 and 17 years saw Edwin Ngeeti and Josphat Kipng’etich Ngeno advance to the semis later Thursday.

Ngeeti (47.47) was the faster of the two Kenyans and finished third in Heat 5 with Kipng’etich (47.72) also rounding the top three in the next race with their work cut out to make the bracket of two automatic qualifiers from the three semis or the lottery of the fastest two losers to make the medal showdown in the early hours of Saturday.

In the corresponding girls’ lap-race Purity Joy Chepkoech clocked 56.12 for third in her heat to qualify for the semis.

Emmanuel Kipyegon Langat sprung the fourth fastest time of the heats in winning the fourth preliminary in 51.70 in the 400m Hurdles to make the semis with teammate Nicholus Kiprotich Chirchir bowing out at the first hurdle.

-Compiled from IAAF.ORG

Kipyegon Bett (right) in action during the boys’ 1500m heats at the Cali World Youth. PHOTO/IAAF

NAIROBI, July 17 – Kenyans are braced to celebrate their first gold in the early hours of Saturday morning as the 9th IAAF World Youth Championships enter their third day in Cali, Colombia.

African record holder, Sandrafelis Chebet and compatriot Celliphine Chepteek Chespol who trails her in the World Youth lead charts have the task of adding to the medal tally in the girls’ 2000m steeple chase final.

The other final will see Kumari Taki and Lawi Kosgei battle it out in the boys’ 1500m final with Taki setting the heats ablaze when he ran the fastest time of the preliminaries.

Emily Chebet Kipchumba and Sheila Chelangat gave Kenya the first medals on Wednesday after bagging silver and bronze behind Ethiopia’s Shuru Bulo in the girls’ 3000m final.

Favourites Chebet and Chepteek are tipped to bag gold and silver after victoriously breezing through their heats on Wednesday to set up a fascinating final that has Ethiopians Beletu Hailu and Beletu Hailu as the competition-in-chief.

African champion, Kumari enters as the rank favourite after winning heat 2 in 3:48.71 ahead of Ethiopia’s Welde Tufa (3:49.71) who also qualified.

Kosgei, who qualified from the heat 1 in 3:53.87 after finishing second behind Ethiopian Mulugata Assefa (3:52.97) with the quartet vying for the three medals on offer after putting daylight between them and the rest of the world.

In Friday night’s girls’ 800m semi, Kenya will be represented by Mary Kalekye Malika who qualified as a fastest loser (2:09.77) after finishing sixth in heat 1 behind winner Gadese Ejarab of Ethiopia (2:06.26).

The other Kenyan in the race Betty Cheokemoi failed to make the cut after finishing fifth in Heat 4 (2:12.05).

In the girls’ 1500m, Joyline Cherotich ran her Personal Best of 4:19.96 to qualify for Saturday’s final after crossing the line third behind winner Dalila Abdulkadir of Bahrain (4:19.34) and Ethiopian Bedatu Hirpa (4:19.34).

Cherotich was joined by Janeth Chepngetich who automatically sailed through from Heat 1 where she crossed the line second (4:32.03) behind Adanech Anbesa (4:28.70) of Ethiopia who won the slowest heat.

On Thursday, the boys’ 3000m heats saw African title holder, Davis Kiplangat and Richard Yator qualify without much sweat to Sunday’s final after they both won their heats.

Ethiopian hopes of retaining the title won two years ago by Yomif Kojelcha lie with Tefera Mosisa (8:07.53) and Abayneh Degu (8:20.08) who finished the well-beaten runner-ups.

Other qualifiers for Saturday’s final will see African champion Kipyegon Bett (1:47.11) lead the Kenyan charge in the corresponding boy’s lap-race after emerging victorious in the first semi-final while Willy Kiplimo Tarbei cruised from semi-final 2 (1:48.68) to line up a possible gold and silver.

The pair are yet to better their stunning PBs they set at the National Trials where, newcomer Tarbei blasted to a staggering 1:44.51 ahead Kipyegon’s 1:44.55.

Kenya’s hopes of winning a medal in sprint for the first time in the competition open to athletes aged 16 and 17, went up in smoke after Josphat Kipngetich Ngeno and Edwin Ngeeti were bundled out in the boys’ 400m.

In the girls’ event, Purity Joy Chepkoech bowed out after finishing last in her heat.

Gor Mahia’s Mehdie Kagere celebrates his equaliser against Mathare United on Sunday, July 12. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya

NAIROBI, July 17- Will Gor Mahia make mockery of the Swahili adage, jogoo wa shamba hawiki mjini (the village cock does not crow in the city) when they bid to lift a first Cecafa Kagame Cup title in 30 years starting Saturday?

That is the USD30,000 (Sh 3.075m) question K’Ogalo will attempt to answer when they launch their bid to be the kings of the region when they take on home favourites and fellow Tanzanian champions, Yanga in an explosive opener to the 2015 tournament.

Besides regional pride, the huge payout for the eventual champions is added motivation for a team that had to rely on last minute help to secure air fare to the event as self supporting Kenyan community clubs continue to experience a biting cash crunch.

At home, Gor, the back-to-back Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions have swept all before them, remaining unbeaten since the current top flight campaign started in February, and left for Tanzania with a healthy 12-point margin at the summit of the table.

“We will take every game at a time. Our first priority is to qualify to the next round, I’m very optimistic we will do well since we have done so in the league.

“The challenge in Cecafa will be good for us to measure our strength against top teams,” assistant head coach, John ‘Bobby’ Ogolla, a member of the triumphant 1985 Cecafa Cup Gor side remarked.

“I was a player then and we beat AFC Leopards 2-0 in Sudan. Before we went there, people it’s only the uniform that went to Cecafa but this time, it’s more than that. We expect good results.

“I’m looking forward to win the trophy. It would be a great pleasure for me to win it as a coach,” he added in illustrating his and the club’s deep desire to rule East Africa once more as he recalled with pride the glorious moment when a Dr. William Obwaka double sank the archenemy in an all Kenyan final.

It is barely 12 months since their last outing at the Cecafa club signature tournament ended in disgrace after the club were bundled out at the first hurdle when they lost three and drew one of the preliminary round matches.

Then, Gor were struggling to balance domestic duties and lack of finances with a stretched squad that lacked in honesty, the pedigree in ranks needed to compete with East African giants as Sudan’s El Merreikh, the well heeled outfit, went on to bag the crown.

Since then, Scotsman Bobby Williamson has been succeeded by countryman Frank Nutall at the helm and with a win percentage of 71, he stands heads and above shoulders above any other K’Ogalo tactician.

 -Nutall Command-

Under his command, the Green Army fans celebrated a second KPL title on the bounce after snapping an 18-year drought and look set to clinch the hat-trick with lack of any serious local competition.

That sewn up, the Green Army faithful, a passionate band of supporters who have made the team the best supported in the country, firmly believe this is the year when they can challenge to return to the throne of East Africa like yesteryears.

“In Dar, we expect good results because players are motivated. I know our fans, even if they are not in Dar, will be supporting us. I’m looking forward for a good outing since our performance here (KPL) has boosted our confidence to play well in the region.

“We are hoping to win our first match against Yanga to motivate us to perform well in the remaining matches. This time, we want to go beyond where we reached last year and if possible, win the title,” skipper, Musa Mohammed asserted.

K’Ogalo are the second most decorated team in history of the competition, behind only to Tanzanian titans Simba with a tally of five against six.

Forward Meddie Kagere, Khalid Aucho (Uganda/midfield), Karim Niizigiyimana (Burundi/right back), Geoffrey Walusimbi (Uganda/midfield), Abuoba Sibomana (Burundi/left-back), Dirkir Glay (Liberia/defender) and Simon Pierre (Cameroon/defender) give the KPL titleholders the required continental mix to battle the best in East Africa.

Lanky 21 year-old forward, Michael Olunga and midfielder, Ali Victor Abondo who have been banging in goals for fun in the KPL, keeper Boniface Oluoch, midfielder Collins Okoth (injury doubtful) and captain Mohammed are the local stars who have supplemented the foreign region to make Gor an almost invincible force in Kenya.

Besides Yanga, Gor will play Al Khartoum (Sudan) who are coached by immediate former Ghana Black Stars head coach, Kwesi Appiah, Telkom (Somalia) and KMKM (Zanzibar) in a Group A they have the resources to nail top-two places to automatically advance.

However, as recent results of national team Harambee Stars point out, the KPL is light years behind the continent and much is needed to return Kenya to the days when Gor, Leopards and Tusker FC used to run the rule at the Cecafa tournament.

Chuba Akpom (left) celebrates scoring for Arsenal against Singapore XI on July 15. PHOTO/AFP

SINGAPORE, July 17- Manager Arsene Wenger is expected to field a strong Arsenal squad for the Barclays Asia Trophy final against Everton on Saturday after resting most of his star players for their opening game earlier this week.

The likes of Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta, Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud and newly-signed goalkeeper Petr Cech all watched from the stands on Wednesday as a fairly youthful Gunners side overpowered a Singapore Select XI 4-0 with teenager Chuba Akpom bagging a hat-trick.

However, the FA Cup holders should be at full strength when they face Premier League rivals Everton in front of what is expected to be a sell-out crowd at the 55,000-capacity National Stadium.

“We have no fringe players, only good players,” said Wenger.

“Some players with less experience played on Wednesday but I came out here to give a game to everyone so those who were not involved in the last game against Singapore will play tomorrow.”

Wenger is expecting a tough outing against an Everton side that finished fifth in the Premier League two seasons ago but slipped to a disappointing 11th in the last campaign after making a slow start. The Toffees beat Stoke City on penalties after a hard-fought goalless draw on Wednesday.

“The first half was very competitive between Everton and Stoke and the challenges were very absolutely full challenges and I expect that from Everton (in the final),” said the Arsenal boss.

“They are coming out of a season where they didn’t do as well as the season before and they will want to start well.”

The Frenchman is looking for his team to build on a solid campaign in 2014-15 although he expects the going to be much tougher for them in the Premier League in the upcoming season.

“It’s our target (to win the Premier League) and we feel we have a chance in a very competitive league,” he said.

“We finished third last year and we won the FA Cup so it shows that we are not far. We have a good cohesive group and I believe that a group that has that quality has the ambition to do better.

“That of course is our target but in our league, it is very difficult to know how good our opponents will be but what is important is to focus on how good we can be and then you have a chance.”

While happy with the squad that he has, the Frenchman has not ruled out the prospect of new signings before the transfer window closes in September.

“We do not rule it out and we do not guarantee there will be no more signings. I am happy with the squad I have but if I find an exceptional talent to strengthen the squad, I will do it.

“However, it’s not easy at the moment because many clubs are out there to buy and the number of players who can strengthen the big teams in Europe is very restricted.”

Asbel Kiprop of Kenya celebrates after winning the Dream Mile at the Diamond League athletics competition at the Bislett Stadium in Oslo on June 11, 2015. PHOTO/AFP

MONACO, July 18- Beijing 2008 Olympics and two-time world champion, Asbel Kiprop, came within a second of the world record as Ethiopia’s female star, Genzebe Dibaba smashed the standard in the corresponding women’s 1500m race as Friday night’s Monaco IAAF Diamond League showdown concluded in explosive fashion .

The men 1500m did not count towards the Diamond Race, but it had a big impact on the world all-time list as Kiprop, 26, laid the best marker ahead of next month’s IAAF World Championships when he stopped the clock in an astonishing 3:26.69!

That jaw-dropping performance was only 69th hundredth of a second outside the world record set by his idol and retired Moroccan legend, Hicham El Guerrouj, who set the seemingly untouchable standard of 3:26.00 at the Italian capital, Rome, in 1998.

Returning to the Stade Louis II, the stadium that has played host to his three fastest times, two-time world champion Kiprop made his intentions clear from the outset.

He clung to the pacemakers, who passed through 800m in 1:50.37 with double world and Olympic champion Mo Farah was leading the chasing pack.

Using his lanky legs, the tall, lean Kenyan track master had opened up the lead over Farah to more than 10m at the bell.

Kiprop held his form on the final lap and continued to pull away from the rest of the field, clocking 3:26.69 to become the third-fastest 1500m runner in history behind Hicham El Guerrouj and Bernard Lagat, breaking El Guerrouj’s meeting record in the process.

In one of the deepest 1500m races in history with a record four men running faster than 3:29 and 10 men running quicker than 3:31, Olympic champion Taoufik Makhloufi clocked a lifetime best of 3:28.75 to finish second.

Morocco’s 2012 world indoor champion Abdalaati Iguider also passed Farah on the last lap to clock 3:28.79, while Farah finished fourth in 3:28.93 to miss out on his European record.

Nick Willis broke his own Oceanian record with 3:29.66 in fifth and the relatively unheralded Kenyan champion Elijah Manangoi took five seconds off his best to clock 3:29.67 in sixth.

“At the bell I knew it could be a very fast time,” said Kiprop. “I wanted a bit of a faster time. But all things considered, it’s great and confirms my form before Beijing,” Kiprop declared after his victory.

He thus delivered on his promise made at the National Championships to return a personal best as his previous top mark of 3:27.72 ran at the 2013 edition of the Herculis meet in Monaco fell as he bids for the Worlds hat-trick in China.

 -Joy for Genzebe-

Genzebe Dibaba with her World Record at the Monaco DL meeting. PHOTO/IAAF

Some 50 minutes before the conclusion of the resounding meeting, Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba achieved what many had believed to be unachievable, breaking the 1500m world record* with a time of 3:50.07.

Qu Yunxia’s mark of 3:50.46, set at the 1993 National Games, was considered to be one of the toughest world records on the books.

But in a perfectly judged race, world indoor 800m champion Chanelle Price paced Dibaba through 400m in 1:00.31 and 800m in 2:04.52 before leaving the Ethiopian to finish.

Dibaba still had European champion Sifan Hassan for company as she passed the bell in 2:50.3, but the two-time world indoor champion kicked hard.

With 100m left to run, it became clear that Dibaba was, at the very least, going to get close to the world record. But she charged for the line, crossing it in 3:50.07 to become the fastest 1500m runner in history.

In a race of great depth, six women ran faster than four minutes. Hassan clocked a national record of 3:56.05 in second, while Rowbury broke the North American record with 3:56.29 in third. 2011 world champion Jenny Simpson recorded her second-fastest time ever with 3:57.30 in fourth.

Britain’s Laura Muir and Maureen Koster of the Netherlands were fifth and sixth, smashing their PBs with 3:58.66 and 3:59.79 in that order.

“The pacemaker did a great job. I’m the first athlete from Ethiopia to break the world record in the 1500m; that is amazing.

“I think Tirunesh will be happy, all of Ethiopia will be happy,” added Genzebe of her older sister and the record holder in 5000m who recently gave birth to her first child with two-time Olympics silver medallist, Sileshi Sihine.

“I knew from the beginning that I could break the record and I feel like I can still improve. I’ll try to break the 5000m world record after the World Championships in Beijing,” the Ethiopian eye candy added.

-‘Buffalo’ victorious-

Elsewhere, Continental, Commonwealth, African and World Indoor champion, Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku alias ‘The Buffalo’ gored the field to submission in recording a first victory of the season in the men 3000m race.

Having missed the huge chunk of the season as he recovered from knee injury, the charismatic champion recovered from the embarrassing fall at his first outing of the season in Lausanne that led to an 11th finish to storm to a 7:35.15 world lead.

He reaffirmed his status among the key challengers to Farah’s reign in 5000m in Beijing having failed to impress at their head-to-head clash in Switzerland where the British double Olympics and world champion reigned supreme.

Ethiopia’s Yenew Alamirew (7:36.39) prevented the Kenyan podium sweep when he followed Mwangangi home for silver with Moscow Worlds 5000m bronze winner, Isaiah Kiplangat (7:37.16) and Edwin Soi (7:37.85) who took the third medal in the 12 and a half lap-race at the Beijing Olympics, rounding the top four.

In the women’s 3000m steeple, Virginia Nyambura –rabbit turned breakout sensation- hot streak came to an end when she finished third (9:13.85) behind Tunisia’s Worlds silver medallist, Habiba Ghribi who ran to a scorching 9:11.28 world lead for victory as another Kenyan, Hyvin Kiyeng, a former World junior champion taking silver in 9:12.51.

‘You Tube Man’ and African record holder, Julius Yego, was not a factor for the second DL meeting in a row when he trailed in sixth in the men’s Javelin with a best throw of 81.79m.

-Material from IAAF used to compile this report

Monaco Diamond League results

Men

100 m (wind: -0.3 m/s):

1. Justin Gatlin (USA) 9.78

2. Tyson Gay (USA) 9.97

3. Jimmy Vicaut (FRA) 10.03

4. Chijindu Ujah (GBR) 10.08

5. Keston Bledman (TRI) 10.10

6. Nickel Ashmeade (JAM) 10.11

7. Emmanuel Biron (FRA) 10.17

. Trayvon Bromell (USA) DQF

800 m:

1. Amel Tuka (BIH) 1:42.51

2. Nijel Amos (BOT) 1:42.66

3. Ayanleh Souleiman (DJI) 1:42.97

4. Boris Berian (USA) 1:43.34

5. Adam Kszczot (POL) 1:43.45

6. Marcin Lewandowski (POL) 1:43.72

7. Ferguson Rotich Cheruiyot (KEN) 1:43.92

8. Mohammed Aman (ETH) 1:44.09

9. Alfred Kipketer (KEN) 1:44.33

10. Pierre-Ambroise Bosse (FRA) 1:45.30

1500 m:

1. Asbel Kiprop (KEN) 3:26.69

2. Taoufik Makhloufi (ALG) 3:28.75

3. Abdalaati Iguider (MAR) 3:28.79

4. Mohamed Farah (GBR) 3:28.93

5. Nicholas Willis (NZL) 3:29.66

6. Elijah Motonei Manangoi (KEN) 3:29.67

7. Robert Biwott (KEN) 3:30.10

8. Aman Wote (ETH) 3:30.29

3000 m:

1. Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku (KEN) 7:35.13

2. Yenew Alamirew (ETH) 7:36.39

3. Isiah Kiplangat Koech (KEN) 7:37.16

4. Edwin Cheruiyot Soi (KEN) 7:37.85

5. Garrett Heath (USA) 7:37.97

6. Ben Blankenship (USA) 7:38.08

7. Ali Kaya (TUR) 7:38.65

8. Hillary Kipkorir Maiyo (KEN) 7:39.70

400 m hurdles:

1. Bershawn Jackson (USA) 48.23

2. Patryk Dobek (POL) 48.62

3. Johnny Dutch (USA) 48.67

4. Michael Tinsley (USA) 48.83

5. L.J. van Zyl (RSA) 48.88

6. Mohamed Sghaier (TUN) 49.53

7. Michael Stigler (USA) 49.80

8. Mickaël François (FRA) 50.01

Triple jump:

1. Christian Taylor (USA) 17.75 m

2. Pedro Pablo Pichardo (CUB) 17.73

3. Omar Craddock (USA) 17.35

4. Nelson Evora (POR) 17.11

5. Benjamin Compaoré (FRA) 16.97

6. Marquis Dendy (USA) 16.96

7. Harold Correa (FRA) 16.58

8. Julian Reid (GBR) 15.96

Polevault:

1. Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) 5.92 m

2. Konstadínos Filippídis (GRE) 5.82

3. Sam Kendricks (USA) 5.82

4. Pawel Wojciechowski (POL) 5.82

5. Brad Walker (USA) 5.72

6. Jan Kudlicka (CZE) 5.72

7. Raphael Holzdeppe (GER) 5.72

8. Michal Balner (CZE) 5.57

9. Carlo Paech (GER) 5.57

9. Piotr Lisek (POL) 5.57

11. Kévin Ménaldo (FRA) 5.42

Shot put:

1. Joe Kovacs (USA) 22.56 m

2. Christian Cantwell (USA) 21.24

3. Reese Hoffa (USA) 21.08

4. Tomas Walsh (NZL) 20.73

5. Ryan Whiting (USA) 20.73

6. Jordan Clarke (USA) 20.72

7. Tomasz Majewski (POL) 20.28

8. Tsanko Arnaudoy (POR) 19.45

Javelin:

1. Tero Pitkämäki (FIN) 88.87 m

2. Vítezslav Vesely (CZE) 85.44

3. Jakub Vadlejch (CZE) 84.32

4. Keshorn Walcott (TRI) 83.54

5. Thomas Röhler (GER) 82.60

6. Julius Yego (KEN) 81.79

7. Ari Mannio (FIN) 80.91

8. Hamish Peacock (AUS) 77.66

Women

200 m (wind: -0.3 m/s):

1. Candyce McGrone (USA) 22.08

2. Dafne Schippers (NED) 22.09

3. Jeneba Tarmoh (USA) 22.23

4. Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) 22.41

5. Kaylin Whitney (USA) 22.54

6. Dezerea Bryant (USA) 22.87

7. Shaunae Miller (BAH) 28.28

400 m:

1. Francena McCorory (USA) 49.83

2. Stephenie Ann McPherson (JAM) 50.41

3. Christine Day (JAM) 50.66

4. Christine Ohuruogu (GBR) 50.82

5. Floria Guei (FRA) 50.90

6. Libania Grenot (ITA) 51.07

7. Phyllis Francis (USA) 51.17

8. Marie Gayot (FRA) 51.31

1500 m:

1. Genezebe Dibaba (ETH) 3:50.07 (WR)

2. Sifan Hassan (NED) 3:56.05

3. Shannon Rowbury (USA) 3:56.29

4. Jennifer Simpson (USA) 3:57.30

5. Laura Muir (GBR) 3:58.66

6. Maureen Koster (NED) 3:59.79

7. Baso Sado (ETH) 4:00.65

8. Anna Shchagina (RUS) 4:01.46

100 m hurdles (wind: -0.3 m/s):

1. Sharika Nelvis (USA) 12.46

2. Kendra Harrison (USA) 12.52

3. Brianna Rollins (USA) 12.56

4. Jasmin Stowers (USA) 12.56

5. Dawn Harper (USA) 12.58

6. Tiffany Porter (GBR) 12.66

7. Alina Talay (BLR) 13.38

. Cindy Billaud (FRA) DNS

3000 m steeple:

1. Habiba Ghribi (TUN) 9:11.28

2. Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi (KEN) 9:12.51

3. Virginia Nyambura (KEN) 9:13.85

4. Hiwot Ayalew (ETH) 9:14.98

5. Purity Cherotich Kirui (KEN) 9:17.89

6. Gesa Felicitas Krause (GER) 9:20.15

7. Salima El Ouali Alami (MAR) 9:20.64

8. Tigist Getnet (ETH) 9:20.65

High jump:

1. Maria Kuchina (RUS) 2.00 m

2. Anna Chicherova (RUS) 1.97

2. Ruth Beitia (ESP) 1.97

4. Airiné Palsyté (LTU) 1.91

4. Svetlana Shkolina (RUS) 1.91

6. Kamila Licwinko (POL) 1.91

7. Alessia Trost (ITA) 1.91

8. Erika Viklund (SWE) 1.91

Long jump:

1. Ivana Spanovic (SRB) 6.87 m

2. Tianna Bartoletta (USA) 6.76

3. Lorraine Ugen (GBR) 6.73

4. Christabel Nettey (CAN) 6.68

5. Shara Proctor (GBR) 6.65

6. Janay DeLoach Soukup (USA) 6.65

7. Darya Klishina (RUS) 6.57

8. Bianca Stuart (BAH) 6.49

Discus:

1. Sandra Perkovic (CRO) 66.80 m

2. Dani Samuels (AUS) 65.21

3. Gia Lewis-Smallwood (USA) 63.97

4. Mélina Robert-Michon (FRA) 62.39

5. Whitney Ashley (USA) 61.03

6. Zinaida Sendriuté (LTU) 57.16

Kumari Taki celebrates winning gold in the boys’ 1500m at the Cali World Youth on July 17. PHOTO/IAAF

CALI, July 18- Kumari Taki and Celliphine Chepteek delivered the first gold medals for Kenya on the third day of the World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia as the country shot up to second in the overall standings behind United States.

On an unforgettable day for global 1500m running, Kumari Taki ensured day three would also be ignited by a stellar metric mile performance as he smashed the boys’ championship record courtesy of a bold front-running display on Friday night.

The 16-year-old Kenyan took the lead from the outset with only his countryman Lawi Kosgei prepared to go with the searing pace set by the stick-thin Taki.

With 600 metres remaining the leader kicked clear of Kosgei and then simply put on a demonstration of his outstanding middle-distance staying power.

He crossed the line in a personal best 3:36.38 to trim 0.39 from Robert Biwott’s championship record and claim Kenyan’s seventh success in nine editions of the event at these championships.

Playing an astute tactical game, Ethiopia’s Mulugeta Assefa benefited from a more conservative approach than Kosgei to catch and pass the fading Kenyan in the latter stages to take silver by 0.33 in a personal best 3:41.33.

A naturally elated Taki, who climbed to number 10 on the all-time youth lists for the boys’ 1500m, added of his first performance outside of Africa:

“It was amazing to improve my personal best and set a championship record. I hope to compete more on the international level. It is a wonderful success.”

Celliphine Chepteek and team mate, Sandra Felis Chebet on their way to the Kenyan girls’ steeplechase 1-2 on July 17. PHOTO/IAAF

Predictably, Kenya claimed a second successive 1-2 in the girls’ 2000m steeplechase at the World Youth with an utterly dominant display that returned an upset.

Chepteek Chespol’s superior technique played its part in her success from her favoured countrywoman and Africa Youth champion, Sandrafelis Chebet.

With the pair battling it out for gold at the penultimate water barrier, Tuei’s unorthodox technique of hurdling the obstacle and landing on both feet proved her undoing.

She lost 10 metres in the process and although she making up ground on her countrywoman between hurdles, Chespol was always able to keep her at arms length to win by more than two seconds in 6:17.15 – a time which was to elevate her to eighth on the all-time youth lists.

Kenya moved to two gold, two silver and two bronze in the medal standings behind US who have won two gold, four silver and three bronze.

-Compiled from IAAF

Gor’s Abouba Sibomana (left) shields the ball during K’Ogalo’s friendly with Harambee Stars. The KPL champions beat Yanga of Tanzania 2-1 in their Kagame Cup opener on Saturday, July 18. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya

NAIROBI, JULY 18 – Kenyan Premier League champions, Gor Mahia came from a goal down to silence hosts and 10-man Young Africans of Tanzania 2-1, to launch their Cecafa Kagame Cup campaign with a bang on Saturday.

Gor stunned the hosts at a near capacity National Stadium to crush the spirits of the home side as fans of archrivals Simba SC, who were rooting for K’Ogalo, joined the handful of the Green Army to celebrate the result.

Liberian defender, Dikir Glay’s fifth minute own goal gave K’Ogalo a nightmare start to their hunt for a sixth Cecafa title but Harun Shakava hauled the Kenyan record national champions level when he nodded home the equaliser at the quarter hour mark.

Youngster Michael Olunga who has plunged in 11 goals in the domestic top flight where Gor are unbeaten, scored the winner moments after the restart to send his side top of Group A on three points same as Zanzibar’s KMKM who beat Djibouti’s Telcom 1-0 in the other clash.

The hosts who were favourites, failed to crow at home in a match where instrumental Donald Ngoma was set off in the 23rd minute before skipper Nadir Haroub missed a late penalty kick that could have forced a draw.

Gor head coach, Frank Nuttall made changes to his preferred starting line-up with Glay coming on for injured midfielder Collins Okoth while Ali Abondo was relegated to the bench for Innocent Wafula.

Yanga who entered the match at the back of a 3-0 win over Police Combined in a warm up match dominated the opening 15 minutes but it was the visitors who could have secured the early lead in the third minute when Olunga, who did well to intercept a pass in the box, saw his shot blocked by defenders.

Two minutes later, Glay gifted Yanga the lead when his poor clearance from Ngoma’s cross from the right beat his keeper, Boniface Oluoch who had come off the line.

The goal motivated the hosts in the ill tempered match that saw Ngoma pick his first yellow card for retaliation on Abuoba Sibomana.

Wafula failed to rise to occasion when he was put through by Olunga with the winger’s poor finish giving, Ally Mustafa an easy save in the 13th.

Yanga defender, Juma Abdul eascaped booking when he brought down Godfrey Walusimbi but the resultant free-kick yielded fruit after Shakava rose high to head home the leveller from a Karim Niizigiyimana delivery.

Olunga then saw his poor pass in the box fail to get to Meddie Kagere who was waiting to slot home before Ngoma was sent off for a second bookable offence when he retaliated on Shakava who had done well to shield the ball as it rolled out of play.

Ngoma’s red card was a sigh of relief to Gor’s defence led by captain Musa Mohammed since the winger had given them a torrid time with his quick runs on the right.

The visitors settled in the game with Olunga missing the target by inches from a good build-up from the left orchestrated by Sibomana and Walusimbi but the hosts still threatened to as Oluoch tipped over a free-kick at the half hour mark from Abdoul.

Olunga had a penalty appeal turned down before he was denied by the woodwork after finding space to shoot from range on the stroke of half-time.

K’Ogalo improved significantly after the break with Olunga finally hitting the target in the 47th minute from a solo effort when he beat two defenders to smash past the keeper with his weaker right foot to send the handful Green Army into frenzy.

The hosts had a chance to pick a point after Shakava handled Amisi Tambwe’s strike in the box but captain Haroub saw his cleverly chipped penalty saved by Oluoch who did well to recover and easily stop the ball with his right hand.

The last chance for Gor that could have hammered the final nail on the coffin saw Kagere waste, when he went for glory as substitute Enoch Agwanda was waiting to tap home.

K’Ogalo will next face KMKM on Monday in their second group fixture.

Tusker FC hat-trick hero, Jesee Were celebrates after netting a goal. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya

NAIROBI, June 18 – Jesse Were grabbed his second hat-trick of the season as Tusker FC ripped apart GOtv Shield champions, Sofapaka 5-0 in a battle of former Kenyan Premier League champions at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Joshua Oyoo was on target to help limping Chemelil Sugar end their eight match winless run in a 1-0 win over KCB.

Muhoroni Youth beat Bandari by the same margin while at Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium, Eric Apul and Oscar Wamalwa found the back of the net to hand hosts Ulinzi Stars 2-0 victory over Ushuru.

Newcomers Eugene Asike and winger Noah Wafula completed the rout that saw 10-time champions Tusker beat Batoto Ba Mungu for the first time in three years to climb fourth on 32 points whilst the 2009 winners remained third a point above.

The win also saw Were stretch his lead atop the scorer’s chart to16, just one shy of last year’s Golden Boot winner, Jacob Keli to stay on track of surpassing Allan Wanga’s 21 goal KPL record.

“Today we were better bearing in mind we had three changes so I’m happy with the boys performance since we hardly pick points in Machakos. We are getting better and better.

“I have an offence that wants to score, they work as a team at as you can see they are being rewarded for the hard work,” Tusker head coach, Francis Kimanzi stated after the win.

His opposite number, Sam Timbe who slumped to his second successive loss after last weekend’s 2-0 upset to KCB, was disappointed with result which is the heaviest they have suffered.

“We are not playing well, the pattern has not yet come but I can’t blame them because we are still gelling. After missing the first penalty, the players got demoralised. We have to pull up because this is not a good picture.”

The brewers has a record of seven defeats and six draws before last weekend’s round but they turned on the style to register their biggest victory in the league in years just a week after demolishing Chemeli Sugar 5-1

Were was at the heart of everything that Tusker did hitting the post early on before putting the brewers ahead on 21 minutes when he converted a penalty after Felly Mulumba had handled the ball in the box.

Sofapaka had a great chance to equalize on 34 minutes after Styve Nzigamasabo was brought down in the box but veteran John Baraza saw his penalty saved by Duncan Ochieng in the Tusker goal.

Sofapaka old boy, Asike made it 2-0 on the stroke of halftime with his first goal for the brewers when he expertly guided home a low Kevin Kimani freekick with the Sofapaka defence motionless.

Wafula then made it 3-0 immediately after the restart heading a Joackins Atudo cross past David Okello. They soon made it four on 64 minutes through another Were finish as Tusker ran riot.

Batoto Ba Mungu then missed the second penalty of the game when Ezekiel Odera saw his spot-kick hit the upright and bounce out to further compound their misery.

Were rubbed salt on Sofapaka’s wounds by completing his hatrick in the 75th minute beating Okello with an assured finish after Sofapaka defence again went walkabout.

He had several chances to increase his tally especially in added time when he dribbled past the keeper but was unable to score in front of a yawning net.

Kenya’s Victor Mose is tackled by Spain’s Facundo Munila (No 33) during their international Test match in Nairobi on July 18. PHOTO/Raymond Mokhaya

NAIROBI, June 18 – Darwin Mukidza grounded a try brace to inspire Kenya 15s Simbas to hunt down visitors Spain 36-27 in a breathtaking international Test match played at Nairobi’s RFUEA Grounds on Saturday.

The win comes as a major boosts for the Simba who will be seeking to reclaim the Africa Cup title when they travel to World Cup-bound Namibia on August 8 in Windhoek but head coach, Jerome Paarwater said it will be an uphill task.

“We played well in the second half because we knew Spain could have come stronger in the line-outs and scrums and I’m happy we managed to handle the pressure. The two Test matches that we have played is a big bonus as we head to Namibia,” Paarwater said after the win.

The result that comes at the back of a 46-15 mauling over Tunisia in the Arica Cup two months after demolishing Portugal 45-15 in their first Test match, could see them inch closer to position 25 when World Rugby releases the rankings.

The hosts came from three points down against a team that is ranked 10 places above them when Mukidza broke a tackle on the right to power through for the opening unconverted try that cancelled out Spain’s early penalty.

Mukidza, who starred against Portugal and Tunisia, doubled the lead when Sammy Oliech intercepted that Spaniards line-out to set up the KCB RFC back who burned up the field to sprint for his second but missed the conversion.

The visitors reduced the deficit moments later after converting from a penalty but Simba played a fast game to see Oliver Mang’eni receive a pass from debutant Samuel Motari to cut in for the converted try and extend the lead for a 17-6 to the breather.

Spain returned opting to kick deep and press and it didn’t take long before they converted a penalty but the hosts remained confident to see Oliech side step to feed Vincent Mose who touched down for 22-13.

Spain grounded their first converted try to cut the deficit to two points before they added another to take the lead on 27-22 to put Paarwater boys on pressure.

Mose had a good run along the sidelines but was stopped before Jacob Ojee was tacked on the neck to see Kenya awarded a penalty try that brought matters level before the conversion went through to reclaim the lead on 29-27.

The hero of the nail biting clash was Lawrence Buyachi who sealed the win from a rolling maul eight minutes to the final whistle.

Harambee Starlets players during a sit in at the South African High Commission in Nairobi on July 15. PHOTO/Twitter

NAIROBI, June 18 – Harambee Starlets chances of qualifying to the 2016 Olympics Games took a knock after going down 1-0 to hosts South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in the third round played at  Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg.

The defeat leave Starlets with a must win return-leg when the two sides clash in a fortnight at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

Starlets however, can leave Johannesburg with their heads high after a gritty performance that left them with a presentable chance of overturning the deficit back home.

Their showing came despite not having time to train at the venue after arriving on the eve of the match.

After experiencing visa troubles, some of the players arrived on midnight Friday and others on Saturday morning as they felt the pitch only when the sides emerged for pre-match warm up ahead of the 3pm local time (+2GMT).

Lerato Ramalepe scored the winner to help her fancied national women’s team notch a slim lead into the second-leg where they will be hoping overcome the Kenyans to advance to the fourth round where Nigeria or Equatorial Guinea await.

A 1-0 victory was a disappointing result to the South Africans, especially after skipper, Nompumelelo Nyande spoke about how they needed to hammer the visitors in the first-leg.

Banyana Banyana who demolished Gabon 8-2 in the second round, struggled to break down Kenya, missing a number of opportunities through key players, Sanah Mollo, Thembi Kgatlana and Slindile Ngubane as goalkeeper Atieno Owino stood tall.

Starlets on the other hand did not look like a team that had just arrived, playing with discipline and organisation to hold the hosts who dominated possession but failed to make it count when it matters.

Ramalepe saved their blushes with a lucky goal, just after the hour mark when she saw her cross beat Atieno for the opener.

David Ouma charges will be seeking to make good use of the home advantage to repeat what they did against Botswana when Dorcas Shikobe late strike saw them edge out Botswana and book Banyana Banyana date on away goal rule after the match ended 2-2 on aggregate.

The winner in the fourth round will represent Africa in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

BARCELONA, July 19- Josep Maria Bartomeu was re-elected as president of European and Spanish champions Barcelona after seeing off rival Joan Laporta.

Bartomeu, 52, polled 25,823 votes (54.63%) with Laporta, a former president, winning 15,615 votes (33.03%).

Other contenders were businessman Agusti Benedito 3,386 votes (7.16%) and lawyer Toni Freixa with 1,750 (3.70%).

With 47,720 votes counted, the election had the third highest turnout in Barcelona history — only 2010 with 57,088 votes and 2003 with 51,618 have been greater.

Bartomeu, who took over as president early last year after his predecessor Sandro Rosell stepped down, will lead Barcelona for the next six years.

Polls opened at 9am local time (0700 GMT) with almost 110,000 members entitled to vote.

Barcelona, just like their great rivals Real Madrid but in contrast to other leading European clubs, are owned by their members — of whom there are more than 150,000 in total — and elections are usually held every six years.

However, this election was called a year early by Bartomeu at a time when tensions inside the club were running high because of poor relations between Barca coach Luis Enrique and star player Lionel Messi — something that was remedied in dramatic fashion when they won the treble of Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey in the spring.

The team’s success on the field and the club’s success off it, with Barcelona returning a record profit of 608 million euros ($650m, £422m), meant Bartomeu was the favourite to beat the challenge of Laporta.

“We must continue to be the number one club and these six years are very important,” Bartomeu said after casting his vote on Saturday morning.

Laporta was in charge from 2003-10 and it was to his credit that he appointed Pep Guardiola in the coaching job in 2008 — a decision which sparked a trophy-laden spell of success — although his financial record has been criticised.

Laporta attacked Bartomeu for standing despite facing criminal charges along with Rosell.

Rosell, a former ally of Laporta’s before the two fell out in 2005, resigned last year when investigations began into alleged misappropriation of funds in the signing of Brazilian star Neymar from Santos.

Bartomeu, who had been the vice-president, stepped up to replace Rosell but in May a court ordered him to stand trial along with the club in the Neymar case.

Laporta, 53, also criticised Bartomeu’s more nuanced stand on Catalan independence which is in stark contrast to his own position.

He has spent the past eight years dabbling in politics, and said he wants Barca to return to the “values” of his previous term in office, with an emphasis on bringing through players from La Masia, the club’s renowned youth academy, and bringing back the Unicef logo on team shirts.

He also said that he would look to sign French international midfielder Paul Pogba from Juventus — he is also a reported target of English side Manchester City.

Barcelona are currently serving a FIFA-imposed transfer ban that means any new signings cannot play for the club until 2016.

AFC Leopard’s Bernard Mang’oli celebrates his winning goal against City Stars on Sunday, July 19 PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya

NAIROBI, June 19- Bernard Mang’oli scored twice as AFC Leopards climbed to third, following their 2-1 win over Nairobi City Stars an entertaining Kenyan Premier League (KPL) encounter at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.

In the early kick-off, Edwin Lavatsa and Noah Abich found the back of the net as Mathare United beat Thika United 2-0 while Western Stima were held to a barren draw by struggling Nakuru All Stars.

In the second match of the double header, Leopards recovered from falling behind to score twice in the second-half to leave City Stars stuck a place above bottom on 13 points despite lately securing a Sh81m sponsorship.

“Football is all about taking risks and that’s what I did by the substitutions that I made. City Stars’ performance shows KPL is competitive. Its  three wins in a row, we now turn our focus to the next fixture against Sony Sugar,” AFC Leopards head coach, Zradvko Logarusic said after the win.

The Kawangware based side were on the ascendancy in the opening half and got due reward when Robert Ndung’u struck in the 23rd minute after being put through by winger Jimmy Bagaye.

With Leopards yet to test City Stars goal keeper, Gradius Ochieng’, Ndung’u skinned Eric Masika and skipper, Jackson Saleh to slam the ball past Ingwe keeper, Lukas Indeche with a brilliant finish at the top right corner for his second goal of the season.

Leopards first shot on target came through youngster Timonah Wanyonyi but Ocheing’ denied him.

City Stars who have only won twice this term maintained the tempo and piled more pressure on Ingwe who had Duncan Otieno and Saleh booked for hard tackles on danger man Bagaye.

In the 39th, Leopards thought they had levelled when Masika headed home a Mang’oli set piece, but it was rightfully ruled out for off-side by assistant referee, Stephen Oduor.

However, Ingwe fans on the notorious ‘Russia’ stand did not take the call kindly as their stewards confronted Oduor and the assistant then fled to centre referee, Moses Osano who stopped play for five minutes.

Logarusic made a double substation on the restart pulling out Khalid Jumaan for Lamin Diallo while Wanyonyi came off for Ivan Anguyo.

The changes almost paid immediately when Diallo raced from the left but his long range shot was matched by a good save from Ochieng’.

City Stars head coach, Gabriel Njoroge brought in veteran Oscar Kadenge for goal scorer, Ndung’u but he could inspire his side against his former pay masters.

Leopards’ urgency finally forced City to crack in the 63rd, when Michael Khamati was hacked down by William Kijiwa inside the box in front of Osano who did not hesitate to point to the spot.

Mang’oli stepped up to slot the penalty past Ochieng’ by sending him the wrong way for the equaliser.

The goal mounted more pressure on the City’s goal mouth as Calvins Masawa prevented them from going behind when he cleared Khamati’s shot off the line.

Ingwe continued their siege and six minutes to the 90, the winner they were threatening finally bulged City’s net when Mang’oli notched his brace with a candidate for goal of the season.

The hero of the day advanced before offloading a ferocious shot from range that flew to the net with panache as he wheeled away to receive the acclaim, leaving City’s defense stunned and eventually beaten.

Willy Tarbei races for the gold medal in the boys’ 800m final at the Cali World Youth Championships in Colombia. PHOTO/IAAF

NAIROBI, July 19 – Willy Tarbei and Kipyegon Bett fulfilled their favorite roles in the boys’ 800m final for the Kenyan 1-2 as the country bagged her third gold of the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia.

Joyline Cherotich won bronze in the girls’ 1500m to leave Kenya second to United Stated with three gold, three silver and three bronze medals on the penultimate day of competition Saturday.

In the boys’ 200m, Aaron Kimutai Tum fell at the semi-final in a seventh finish in 21.95 in the first heat that was won by Japanese Abdul Hakim Sani Brown (20.62) to end the run of Kenya’s last sprinter in the competition.

There was however, not trouble when Tarbei and Bett stepped to the track for the two-lap final and wasted no time in getting way ahead of their nearest rivals.

They came to Cali on the back of huge personal best at last month’s Kenyan Trials in Nairobi where they returned 1:44.51 (Bett) and 1:44.55 (Tarbei) and they did not disappoint as the raced to gold and silver to maintain their nation’s rhythm in 800m they have dominated for 10 years.

It was the front-running Tarbei, who was rewarded for his proactive approach to the race, taking the honours in 1:45.58, 0.28 clear of his teammate as Kenya grabbed this title for the fifth time in the past six editions.

Brazilian Luis Fernando Pires beat Ethiopian Omer Amano to the bronze after clocking his personal best of 1:48.61.

After just 0.04 separated Tarbei and Bett at the Kenyan Youth Championships last month, many expected the battle between the two prodigious talents to be a close run thing and so it proved.

Predictably they rushed to the front with Tarbei passing 200m in 24.80 shadowed by Bett with South Africa’s Theuns Ehlers desperately trying to hang on to their coat tails.

At the bell, it was Tarbei in 52.17 from Bett with Ethiopia’s Omer Amano now the man holding third place as Ehlers was relegated to fourth.

The gap between the Kenyans and the rest of the world widened down the back stretch as the race was very obviously – if that wasn’t already apparent – going to lead to a Kenyan 1-2.

Tarbei held a two-metre lead coming into the home straight and Bett moved wide to launch his attack.

The long-time leader always remained at least half a stride clear down the home stretch to hold off his teammate’s late charge to snatch the gold in the second fastest ever winning time in the history of the event at the IAAF World Youth Championships.

The pair had already begun their celebrations when Pires, who had paced his race impressively, grabbed bronze.

-Cherotich bronze-

With a last-gasp, eyeballs-out, surge down the home straight, Ethiopia’s Bedatu Hirpa powered past Bahrain’s Dalila Abdulkadir Gosa to win gold as Cherotich claimed bronze in her personal best of 4:18.61.

The second Kenyan, Janeth Chepngetich crossed the line at a disappointing fifth after returning 4:19.43.

On what was a warm night in the Pascual Guerrero Stadium, the pace was hot from the gun, with Cherotich quickly getting to the front and taking the field through 400m in 62.92.

At that point, Chepng’etich ran alongside her teammate, with the Kenyan duo looking to control the race and regain the title for their country after winning on four consecutive occasions between 2005 and 2011.

The pace slowed considerably on the second lap (70.18), and Chepngetich soon moved to take her turn at the front.

However, she was quickly overtaken by Gosa, who briefly appeared to have made a winning move for home on the final lap.

Hirpa, though, had other ideas, and the Ethiopian 16-year-old clung to Gosa’s shoulder as they rounded the final turn, before gradually edging her way into the lead halfway down the home straight.

In the end, she simply had too much for the valiant Gosa in the final dash to the line and Hirpa came home in 4:12.92 to retain the title for Ethiopia, with Tigist Gashaw having won in Donetsk, Ukraine in 2013.

Although she was comprehensively outrun over the final 200 metres, Cherotich hung on for the bronze was still pleased with her run.

“I am very comfortable with my bronze medal,” she said, “but next time I want to win gold.”

Kenya will be looking to wrap up the ninth outing on a high by winning gold in the boys’ 2000m steeple chase and 3000m when curtains in the five day championships come down on Sunday.

African champion Vincent Kipyegon is tipped to grab the 2000m water and barriers race title which was won by Ethiopia in the last edition in Donetsk.

He will be joined in the fray by Geoffrey Riotich while in 3000m Richard Yator Kimunyan will be out to reclaim the title from Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha.

Vincent Kipyegon Ruto crosses the line for victory in the boys’ 2000m steeplechase at the 2015 Cali World Youth on July 19. PHOTO/IAAF

NAIROBI, July 20- Vincent Kipyegon Ruto and Richard Yator Kimunyan closed the 2015 Cali World Youth Championships in golden fashion for Kenya as the distance-running superpower finished second overall in the standings on Sunday night.

Significantly as five-days of riveting track and field action came to a grandstand finish inside the Pascual Guerrero Stadium in the Colombian city, Kenyan officials proudly received the flag to host the 2017 edition in Nairobi in what officially launches preparations to welcome the world in two years time.

USA, with five gold entered the last day top of the pile followed by the famous red, green and black brigade on three gold, three silver and three bronze.

Ethiopia, further down the table in fourth, were on two gold and eyeing to topple their archrivals as the best African nation at the biennial age track and field showpiece.

Kenya’s position as the best in the continent was confirmed in two races that followed each other back to back, the boys’ 3000m and 2000m steeplechase finals.

– Yator nails it-

In a race that boiled down to a frantic three-way dash to the line, it was Yator who ultimately had the most gears and took the boys’ 3000m gold medal in 7:54.45.

Kimunyan led home a 1-2 for the long-distance masters, and it was the sixth time in nine editions of the IAAF World Youth Championships that the title has been won by Kenya.

His compatriot Davis Kiplangat – who had edged him in close finishes twice already this season – had to settle for silver in 7:54.52.

Ethiopia’s Tefera Mosisa took bronze in a personal best of 7:55.04 in a race where the East African dominance was rarely threatened.

The only athlete who made a genuine bid to break their stranglehold was Japan’s Hugo Endo, who ran with the leading quartet of Kenyans and Ethiopians through 2000m, which was reached in a swift 5:23.89.

In the end, though, Endo became a victim of his own ambition and slowed badly over the last two laps, ultimately finishing a distant fifth in 8:26.96.

At the front, the race was being controlled by the Kenyan duo, with Ethiopia’s Mosisa and Abayneh Degu nestling in their slipstream.

Kimunyan led into the final lap, with Kiplangat running on his shoulder, the pace gradually ratcheting up through each 100-metre segment.

With 200 metres to go, all four athletes were going at full speed. Something had to give, and the first to crack was Degu.

Once the three who remained entered the home straight, Mosisa moved out into lane two and powered up on the outside of the Kenyan pair but try as he might, he just couldn’t get past.

Kimunyan pumped his arms frantically and found an extra gear over the final 50 metres and he finished just inches in front of Kiplangat, with Mosisa a close third.

“The race was not too hard for me,” said Kimunyan. “The finish was very fast and I was strong. It’s great for Kenya, because my colleagues are used to winning.”

Kiplangat was also pleased with his silver medal. “I am very happy; it was a battle and there were a couple of other good fighters in there, so this is a good result.”

It was the fourth time in the last five editions of these championships that the Kenyans went 1-2 in the boys’ 3000m, a run of dominance that shows little sign of abating any time soon.

 -Kipyegon reclaims-

Richard Yator (left) and Davis Kiplangat come in for the Kenyan 1-2 in the boys’ 3000m final at the Cali World Youth on July 19. PHOTO/IAAF

Kenya reclaimed the boys’ 2000m steeplechase final title from Ethiopia courtesy of a richly deserved aggressive front-running display by Kipyegon, who won in 5:27.58.

The diminutive Kenyan simply ran the legs off 2014 Youth Olympic Games champion Wogene Sebsibe to ensure Kenyan would bank gold in this event or the seventh time in nine editions of the World Youth.

It only took 500 metres for the two Kenyans, Ruto and Geofrey Rotich, and the Ethiopian pair of Sebisibe and Tegenu Mengistu to open up a clear advantage on the rest of the field, or should that be the rest of the world, as the final predictably formed into two separate races.

Ruto, the Kenyan youth champion, willingly hammered out the pace at the front with Mengistu the first of the lead contenders to raise the white flag, sliding off the back of the lead group as the leader hit 1000m in a rapid 2:43.03.

With two laps remaining, Rotich was the next to find the pace too hot to handle as the battle for the gold medal formed into a two-way fight.

Sebisibe, who had finished two places in front of Ruto when winning silver in the 3000m steeplechase at the African Junior Championships in March, was happy to track Ruto.

However, the Kenyan’s searing pace coupled with his greater technical proficiency over the barriers was to prove Sebisibe’s undoing.

Down the back stretch on the final lap the business-like Ruto – all pumping arms and legs – had opened up a decisive gap from which the Ethiopian, who was conceding significant ground over most hurdles, could not recover.

Ruto could bask in the glow of likely victory over the last half lap and secured gold with a winning time just a fraction outside of his lifetime best set at the Kenyan Youth Championships in Nairobi last month.

The fading Sebisibe was briefly challenged as the re-energised Rotich sniffed a potential silver medal, but the Ethiopian had enough in reserve to take second spot by 0.75 in 5:29.41.

Seven boys in the field set personal best times, including every finisher from second to sixth.

“The wind was a small problem during the race but I still produced my best performance,” said a delighted Ruto. “I always expected this victory.”

Kenya closed with 13 medals with a tally of 5-4-4 with the Americans taking top honours with 19 (8-5-6) as Japan (3-1-1) edged out fourth placed Ethiopia (2-3-3) to round off the top three.

-Compiled from IAAF.org

KENYA MEDALLISTS

GOLD: Kumari Taki (boys’ 1500m), Celliphine Chepteek Chespol (girls’ 2000m steeple), Willy Kiplimo Tarbei (boys’ 800m), Richard Yator Kimunyan (boys’ 3000m), Vincent Kipyegon Ruto (boys’ 2000m steeple); SILVER: Emily Chebet Kipchumba (girls’ 3000m), Sandrafelis Chebet Tuei (2000m girls’ steeple), Kipyegon Bett (boys’ 800m), Davis Kiplangat (boys’ 3000m); BRONZE: Sheila Chelangat (girls’ 3000m), Lawi Kosgei (boys’ 1500m), Joyline Cherotich (girls’ 1500m), Geofrey Rotich (boys’ 2000m steeple)

 MEDAL TABLE

1          United States             8          5          6          19

2          Kenya                         5          4          4          13

3          Japan                         3          1          1          5

4          Ethiopia                      2          3          3          8

5          South Africa               2          2          1          5

6          Sweden                      2          1          1          4

7          Germany                    2          1          0          3

7          Russia                        2          1          0          3

9          Cuba                          2          0          2          4

10        Pr Of China                1          5          1          7

Sepp Blatter leaves the stage after announcing his resignation. Swiss reports claimed he was considering staying on after being asked by Asia and Africa. PHOTO/File

ZURICH, July 20- FIFA will hold a special election on February 26 to replace president Sepp Blatter, football’s scandal-tainted world body said Monday as French football great Michel Platini moved closer to launching a campaign.

The FIFA executive, including rivals Blatter and Platini, agreed the date at a meeting in Zurich where the “extraordinary elective FIFA congress” will be held.

Blatter announced on June 2, four days after winning a fifth term as president, that he would stand down as a major corruption storm hit world football’s ruling body.

The decision was a victory for Blatter who had wanted the vote pushed back until 2016. UEFA and some other regional bodies had sought a December election.

Blatter was to announce at a later press conference whether the executive committee agreed to first reform measures for the multi-billion dollar body.

FIFA is still reeling from the arrest of seven officials at a Zurich congress two days before Blatter won reelection on May 29.

The seven are among 14 people — soccer officials and sports business executives — accused by US authorities over more than $150 million in bribes paid to secure television and marketing contracts for football tournaments.

Former FIFA vice president Jeffrey Webb appeared in a New York court on Saturday after being extradited from Switzerland last week. He denied bribery charges but was only released on $10 million bail.

Swiss authorities are in parallel investigating the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively.

– Candidates gather –

Candidates for the FIFA presidency have until October 26 to put their names forward.

So far only Brazilian football great Zico has officially declared himself. But Platini is considered the favourite to take over if he decides to stand.

Platini will decide in the next two weeks whether to run, a source close to the UEFA leadership said.

The 60-year-old Frenchman is closing on a campaign after getting verbal support from four of the six regional confederations that make up football’s world body, the source told AFP.

Only the Confederation of African Football (CAF) — led by Blatter ally Issa Hiyatou — and the Oceania confederation is not backing Platini.

The UEFA leader has made increasing calls for reform of the world body in recent months. These have been heightened since the raid on the Zurich hotel to detain the seven FIFA officials.

“He is seriously considering running. He will make a decision in the next two weeks maximum and then make an announcement,” the source said.

If Platini, now in his third term as president of Europe’s UEFA, decides not to stand he could reveal who he will back in the election.

“Platini knows that the decision must be taken quckly to close the door against any other challenger,” the source said.

Platini backed Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, a former FIFA vice president from Jordan, when he stood against Blatter in May. The prince could again be a candidate in February’s election.

Chung Mong-Joon, another former FIFA member from South Korea, is also considering a run.

Brazilian football great and former sports minister Zico has already said he will stand. Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has also indicated he is ready to join a campaign.

European football leaders say Platini has been consulting widely about whether to stand in the election. This was confirmed by the source.

“He has been listening to a lot of people and weighing up everything they have said about FIFA’s future. He has been very touched by the warm comments of support he has had.

“But sometimes statements that are made are not worth as much as they should be,” the source warned to explain the UEFA chief’s hesitation.

Platini will also assess the level of support at the draw for the World Cup qualifying tournaments which is to be made in St Petersburg, Russia on Saturday.

Gor forward Meddie Kagere, the scorer of the opening goal in 3-1 win over KMKM, celebrates netting at a past KPL match. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya

NAIROBI, June 20 – No wonder his is fast becoming a sensation in Tanzania! Youngster Michael Olunga notched a braceas Gor Mahia put one foot in the Cecafa Kagame Cup quarter-finals after trouncing Zanzibar’s KMKM 3-1 at Dar-es -Salaam National Stadium on Monday.

Strike partner, Meddie Kagere gave K’Ogalo a dream start after only two minutes with the opener but the lead lasted for only nine minutes when Mateo Saimon pulled the sides level in a tactically absorbing Group A clash.

Olunga then stole the headlines in the second half when he doubled the lead in the 69th before completing his double 10 minutes to full time for his third goal of the tournament.

The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions who grew in stature as the match progressed, forcing their opponents deeper in the second half now need a draw against former Ghana head coach, Kwesi Appiah’s Al Khartoum of Sudan to book ticket in the last eight.

Earlier, the Sudanese all but ended Djibouti’s Telcom hopes when they drubbed them 5-0 to inflict their second defeat here.

“It was like a final game because both had three points. The first-half was tough because we scored early according to the coach’s instruction but they equalised immediately so we had to change to change tactics and approach second half with another option,” Olunga, who was deservedly named man-of -the match said after the contest was over.

With both sides entering the clash with wins picked in their openers, Gor head coach, Frank Nuttal, made two changes from the squad that beat hosts Young Africans 2-1; resting defender, Dikir Glay and Innocent Wafula for Ali Abondo and Ronald Omino.

Kagere’s early strike came from a Olunga cut in from the left after  good build-up play in midfield by Ugandan Khalid Aucho.

KMKM nearly restored parity three minutes later when Saimoni hit the side netting from Nassour Omar cross but he made amends moments later when he beat Gor’s poorly organised rearguard to head past Boniface Oluoch from a Juma Mbwana corner.

The Isalanders took charge of the game, dominating possession for the better part of the first-half.

Mbwana missed a glorious chance on the stroke of half-time to give them a half-time advantage when he failed to beat Oluoch in a one-on-one as the keeper rushed out of his line to nick the ball as he tried to round him and place in an unguarded net.

Gor returned the more determined of the two, forcing shot-stopper, Nassour Abdoulla pull a breathtaking triple save.

He first clawed out Abuoba Sibomana set-piece before saving Kagere’s shot on the rebound and denied Harun Shakava by getting his hand to the ball as he prepared to head it in from close range.

After coming close in the 60th, Olunga finally got his goal when he placed a glancing header that bobbled to the net after connecting from a Karim Niizigiyimana cross for 2-1 K’Ogalo.

The 21-year-old who was growing in prominence then rattled the woodwork two minutes later but he did not have to wait for much longer to enhance his glowing reputation in Tanzania when he scored a truly poacher’s goal for the third.

Substitute Enock Agwanda sent in a long throw in that caught the KMKM defence flat-footed and the lanky striker killed the ball with a deft touch before sending the ball across the keeper for a smooth finish.

In the early-kick off, former Gor midfielder, Anthony Akumu’s Al Khartoum thrashed Telcom of Djibouti 5-0 to sit second in Group A on three points, having a game less.

K’Ogalo next face Al Khartoum on Wednesday.

Christopher Froome (R) rides ahead of Spain’s Alejandro Valverde (C), and Colombia’s Nairo Quintana during the 16th stage of the Tour de France on July 20, 2015, between Bourg-de-Peage and Gap, southern France. PHOTO/AFP

GAP, July 21- Tour de France leader Chris Froome branded the constant speculation surrounding him as “strange” after once again facing a barrage of doping questions.

Froome finished 28th on Monday’s 16th stage from Bourg-de-Peage to Gap, more than 18 minutes behind winner Ruben Plaza, but still had to answer doping-related questions in the yellow jersey press conference.

But the 30-year-old Briton suggested the treatment he gets is inconsistent with those of others when they enjoy success.

Since he won the Tour in 2013, four different riders have won the five Grand Tours held between then and the 2015 Tour.

American Chris Horner was 41 — a record — when he won the 2013 Vuelta a Espana but despite that success his RadioShack team let him leave at the end of the season and just over a year later he had to drop down to Continental Tour level (from the World Tour) to find a team.

Nairo Quintana won the 2014 Giro d’Italia before Vincenzo Nibali, riding for the doping-tainted Astana team, won the Tour that same year.

Alberto Contador, who has served a two-year doping ban after testing positive for clenbuterol, then triumphed at the 2014 Vuelta and 2015 Giro.

But none of them have suffered the kind of scrutiny subjected to Froome in either his 2013 success or this year.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say they need more scrutiny,” said Kenyan-born Froome, the Team Sky leader.

“But I’ve got to admit it is frustrating to an extent that if you look at the last five Grand Tours that have been won by different teams and different riders, there hasn’t been the same outcry for power data numbers, unless I’m missing something.

“The last five Grand Tours didn’t see the same kind of level of questioning.

“Of course I don’t really understand why now it seems to be such a hot topic.

“OK, I won one mountain top finish by 59 seconds — it just seems strange to me.”

Froome has had urine thrown at him by a fan during the Tour, his Australian teammate Richie Porte was punched and others have been spat at, insulted and accused of doping.

– Nibali comparison –

Last year, Nibali won four stages at the Tour, including one by 1min 10sec to Thibaut Pinot.

The man who started second that day, Alejandro Valverde, finished almost two minutes back.

Italian Nibali rarely put huge time gaps into his rivals but consistently gained time on them throughout the three-week race, which he led almost from start to finish.

By the end of the race, Nibali’s gap to second-placed Jean-Christophe Peraud was 7min 52sec and only three riders finished inside 10 minutes back from the Sicilian.

Froome won the 2013 Tour by 4min 20sec to Quintana and four riders finished within the gap between Nibali and Peraud.

Froome’s current lead over Quintana is 3min 10sec with another eight riders, down to Dutchman Bauke Mollema in ninth, within 10 minutes, although there are still four Alpine stages and 18 categorised climbs to come after Tuesday’s rest day.

Froome has been particularly critical of certain TV commentators — notably French former riders Laurent Jalabert and Cedric Vasseur — for comments linking him to doping and cheating, which he feels has influenced the common fan.

Not to mention the seeming obsession with his power data, which was even allegedly stolen after Sky’s computers were hacked.

Froome’s been backed by some important figures in cycling, including Tour director Christian Prudhomme, a former journalist.

“The top racer has never been liked in the history of the Tour de France. It was true with Jacques Anquetil, it was true with Eddy Merckx, and it’s being repeated now. But there must be a minimum of respect,” he said.

And the Professional Cyclists Association (CPA) president Gianni Bugno, a former cyclist, spoke up in defence of Froome.

“Gianni Bugno, President of the CPA, in reference to the recent incidents that involved Chris Froome at the Tour de France, condemns the behaviour of certain TV commentators who, accusing without any evidence the integrity of the riders, generate uncivilised and unbecoming behaviour of certain fans,” said a CPA statement.