First-placed Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot of Kenya (right), second-placed Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet of Kenya and fifth-placed Mercy Cherono of Kenya (center) celebrate after the women's 5,000m final on Friday. Dylan Martinez / Reuters

DAEGU, South Korea - Kenya leaves the World Championships in South Korea as the undisputed kings of distance running with no realistic rival in events ranging from the 800m all the way up to the marathon.

Even Ethiopia, who for so long has been the east African nation's main challengerswith the likes of Kenenisa Bekele, has been left looking like also-rans as a team brimming with talent exerts an iron grip on the track.

The Kenyans finished third in the medals table (behind top nation the United States and second-placed Russia) with seven golds, nearly double its haul of four golds from the 2009 Berlin worlds.

A measure of its dominance is that it won seven of the 12 events for men and women from the 800m through to the marathon, accruing 17 of the possible 36 medals on offer.

Threats to its dominance were sporadic, notably coming from Ibrahim Jeilan, the winner of the men's 10,000m.

Janeth Jepkosgei, who took bronze in the women's 800m on the final night of track and field action on Sunday, said: "As captain of the Kenyan team I am happy for our overall result and the good achievements with so many medals. And I also come home with something around my neck. Congratulations to the team!"

Kenya's World Championships medals bid got off to a stunning start on the first day when it grabbed all six medals on offer in the women's marathon and 10,000m and it did not look back.

Edna Kiplagat started the medals charge when she claimed marathon gold, leading Priscah Jeptoo and Sharon Cherop across the line on the streets of Daegu.

Team tactics then helped Vivian Cheruiyot win gold in the 10,000m with fellow countrywomen Sally Kipyego and 2009 champion Linet Masai completing the podium.

Cheruiyot returned to the track to defend her 5,000m title in a Kenyan 1-2 with Sylvia Kibet.

When asked after her 5,000m win what was the secret to Kenya's prowess, Cheruiyot said: "The secret to our success is that we normally do teamwork."

World record holder David Rudisha of Kenya won a gun-to-tape victory to take the world 800m crown, banishing the heartbreak of his failure at the 2009 worlds, saying the Kenyans were "happy to see our flag rising so often".

Defending champion Ezekiel Kemboi won men's 3,000m steeplechase gold and Asbel Kiprop added the world 1,500m title to his Olympic crown.

Remarkably, it was the first time a Kenyan has won the 1,500m event at the worlds, although Kenyan-born Bahraini Yusuf Kamel (2009) and American Bernard Lagat (2007) were holders of the past two world titles coming into Daegu.

Kenyan head coach Peter Mathu said the dominance of Kenya was down to a range of factors including a powerful work ethic and the experience of running from a young age as many children still have to run miles to school.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 09/06/2011 page22)