Cheruiyot, Kipsang miss out on the medals as Wightman pulls off surprise 1500m victory

Kenyan athletes were locked out of the medals in the men’s 1500m final at the World Athletics Champions in Eugene, Oregon on Wednesday morning.

This is after defending champion Timothy Cheruiyot could only manage sixth place in a time of 3 minutes 30.69 seconds with compatriot Abel Kipsang coming in seventh in 3 minutes 31.21 seconds, the first time that Kenya failed to medal in the metric mile since the 2011 champions in Daegu, South Korea.

Britain’s Jake Wightman upstaged Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen in a huge upset to win a thriller of a race.

Ingebrigtsen led at the bell for the final lap, but Wightman stuck with the pace and bolted with 200 metres to go, successfully holding off the Norwegian for victory in 3min 29.23sec.

Ingebrigtsen took silver in 3:29.47, with Spaniard Mohamed Katir claiming bronze (3:29.90).

Kenya’s Abel Kipsang shot to the front from the start, while Ingebrigtsen settled in five back with an outside line at Hayward Field.

With two laps to go, the Norwegian overtook Kipsang and reigning world champion Timothy Cheruiyot as the pack split into single file.

At the bell for the final lap, it was Ingebrigtesm, the two Kenyans and the British pair of Josh Kerr and Wightman who accelerated away.

Wightman played Ingebrigtsen at his own game and broke at the bend, pulling away into the home straight.

Ingebrigtsen tried to counter, but the Briton held on for a fantastic win.