Ongori lauds sweep: Injured star regrets missing Commonwealth Games as fans celebrate marathon win

Philles Moraa Ongori at the Keelu Resort in Iten where the marathon team is training for the Commonwealth Games. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

Philes Ongori said her injury ruined Kenya’s women team plans to sweep the marathon medals at the Commonwealth Games.

In her absence in Glasgow, Flomena Cheyech and Coroline Kilel clinched gold and silver and Ongori said it was paining for her to miss the Glasgow action.

“I was crying, wishing I was part of the winning team. If I were there then we could have swept the podium,” said Ongori in Nakuru.

She added that Cheyech and Kilel did well to keep Kenya’s flag high up in Scotland.

“Now that I have finished crying, I am looking forward for another national duty, which I don’t know when it will come,” she said.

Ongori was among the many fans who were glued to the television watching the marathon race live from Glasgow. As the athletes came in to the finishing point, celebration rendered the air in Iten town as Cheyech and Kilel took the first two positions.

big boost

This came just minutes after Stephen Chemlany scooping silver medal in men’s marathon. It was a big boost for the fans, who had expected a double sweep in the 42km distance.

Many had been demoralised  by the failure by the men’s team to stamp their authority and win all the three marathon medals. That was however, atoned when the women’s race saw Cheyech lead a 1-2 podium finish with the former Boston marathon champ Kilel.

It was a repeat of the performance four years ago in New Delhi when Irene Cherotich and Irene Mogaka won gold and silver respectively.
John Ekiru Kelai, who was on course to defend his title in won in India in 2010, faded off at 25km to give way to Australian Michael Shelley to carry the title home. Kelai was the second Kenyan to win gold in Marathon at the Commonwealth games after Douglas Wakiihuri during the 1990 games.

Poor show

Kelai, could not produce the kind of performance many expected and it was left to Chemlany to battle the Australian and he was happy to salvage a silver medal from the Club Games.

Kelai came in fifth position after Ugandans Abraham Kiplimo and Solomon Mutai followed each other in third and fourth places respectively. Interestingly the two train in Iten with other Kenyan athletes.

Erick Ndiema’ who had the best time on the course, faded away as the race progressed. The two athletes Chemlany and Ndiema are neighbours at Chesito Village in Mount Elgon.

Kelai’s training mate Wilson Chebet, who watched the races in his house in Eldoret town, said they had to accept the results but he had no doubts Ndiema was to carry the title.

“All eyes were on Kelai as the defending champion. But we have to accept the outcome. I had belief in Ndima because he had the best time and had not raced for a very long time.

“Interestingly, he came in sixth, which was not good for him. Also the weather may have affected them,” said Chebet, the three-time Amsterdam marathon winner.