Olympics: Jelimo gives Kenya's women first ever Olympic athletics gold

Tuesday, 19 August 2008

BEIJING - Teenage sensation Pamela Jelimo became the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic track and field gold on Monday when she claimed the 800 metres in a world junior record of 1 minute 54.87 seconds.

The 18-year-old beat home compatriot and world outdoor champion Janeth Jepkosgei (1:56.07) while 2004 Olympic silver medallist Hasna Benhassi of Morocco was third (1:56.73).

Mozambique's Maria Mutola finished fifth in her fifth Olympic final and the 33-year-old's sixth and final Olympics.

Defeat for Jepkosgei was a bittersweet moment as it was the 25-year-old who advised the winner to move up from 400m to 800m at the end of last year.

Jepkosgei - considered like an older sister by Jelimo - set a searing first lap pace which saw the two Kenyans open up a huge gap on Jamaican Kenia Sinclair while Mutola settled in fourth.

At the bell, though, Jelimo moved smoothly past Jepkosgei and quickly opened up a sizeable lead while the others toiled behind them.

There was no doubt about the winner rounding the final turn and the only question was who would get the minor medals.

Benhassi made her move rounding it and quickly passed a retreating Sinclair while Mutola had given her all and had nothing left to fight back with and was eventually passed by the fast finishing Russian Svetlana Klyuka.