Finally! Vivian Cheruiyot is an Olympics champion!

Vivian Cheruiyot at long last savoured the proudest moment of her decorated career when she blasted past the tiring Ethiopian favourite, Almaz Ayana in the penultimate lap to scorch to victory in the Rio 2016 women 5000m final in a new Olympics record of 14:26.17 for her first gold that was Kenya’s fifth of the Summer Games

To cap a memorable morning for the ‘Pocket Rocket’ stable-mate Hellen Obiri Onsando followed her home in a lifetime best of 14:29.77 as Ayana came home in 14:33.69 for the bronze.

“Finally, after 16 years, all the hard work she has done for 16 years have paid off tonight. We must thank God for this; we must thank God for this! I’m so happy, very happy,” her overjoyed husband and coach, Moses Kiplagat, who was watching the race from Nairobi’s Ngong suburb told Citizen Digital as his wife went on her lap of honour.

“A fantastic run as @VivianCheruiyot wins Kenya’s first ever #Olympics in the women’s 5,000m & sets Olympic Record,” Deputy President, William Ruto, tweeted after the mother of one, son Allan Kiprono, nailed her biggest career victory.

As has been the custom whenever a Kenyan strikes gold, the micro-blogging site was flooded with congratulatory messages for Cheruiyot as she immediately shot to the top of the trending topics.

Waving her arms wildly in uninhibited excitement, the four-time world champion embarked on frenzied celebrations on the blue tartan track of Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio-de-Janeiro after winning Kenya’s first ever Olympics gold medal in the women’s 5000m.

Coincidentally, her first of four world title came on a blue tartan when she beat Ethiopian arch-rival Meseret Defar for the women 5000m gold with another stable-mate, Sylvia Chebet, like Obiri coming through for the silver past the tiring favourite. Lightning does indeed strike twice.

It was truly a moment to behold for the pint-sized athlete who was on her last chance salon for the biggest prize in her sport having come close but no cigar with silver medals at Beijing 2008 (5000m), London 2012 (10000m) and last Saturday, Ayana scorched the field to force her to accept the second medal by deploying a crushing world record performance of 29:17.45 at the longer distance.

Cheruiyot was disconsolate at the mixed zone despite taking silver in a lifetime best of 29:32.53 and national record but promised to bounce back in the 12 and a half-lap race.

Shortly before her last crack at the elusive gold started, Cheruiyot was pictured with PACE Management stable-mate and Jamaican great, Usain Bolt, at the training area in deep conversation and after they hugged for good luck, their height difference all to screaming, it was time for the Kenyan to take on to the track.

It all started with the rarest of occurrences for a distance race when the starter backed them up from the starting line, the second time it happened at the Rio 2016 after the women 3000m steeplechase final was recalled.

None of the athletes were cautioned and they went off at the second time of asking.

-Front running-

Japan’s Miyuki Uehara took the early front-running with Ayana on her shoulder with Obiri leading the chasers a little way back from the pair as the leader came through the opening kilometre in 2:59.86.

As they motored around the track, the Ethiopian world champion at the distance, Ayana took over and as she approached eight laps to go, she took off like she did last year in Beijing and stepped up the pace with everyone thinking it was all over.

She zoomed past the 2000m in 6:00.36 as those behind her in a group of three Kenyans that had also Moscow 2013 Worlds silver winner, Mercy Cherono and Turkey’s Yasemin Can led the chasers further back.

The slow early pace at that point meant Ayana was unlikely to set another world record but the long drive to the finish is how she won world title and she put 8:47.80 on the clock at 3000m with Cheruiyot having moved to second and Obiri third.

The three Kenyans were working together to chase Ayana and soon, they realised she was tiring and with their eyes up, they set off in hot pursuit not defending silver but chasing gold and soon, they had their rival reeled in.

With 600m to go the ‘Pocket Rocket’ launched the afterburners and powered all the way to the line for the triumph she has sought so much and in the end, her legend was complete.

Behind Ayana, Cherono ran 14:42.89 for fourth to round a good job all round for the Kenyans in a race that produced the most deserving of winners.

LEADING RESULTS

1. 946 Vivian Jepkemoi CHERUIYOT KEN 14:26.17 OR
2. 954 Hellen Onsando OBIRI KEN 14:29.77 PB
3. 641 Almaz AYANA ETH 14:33.59
4. 945 Mercy CHERONO KEN 14:42.89
5. 649 Senbere TEFERI ETH 14:43.75
6. 1257 Yasemin CAN TUR 14:56.96
7. 1068 Karoline Bjerkeli GRØVDAL NOR 14:57.53 PB
8. 1036 Susan KUIJKEN NED 15:00.69 PB
9. 344 Eloise WELLINGS AUS 15:01.59 SB
10. 325 Madeline HEINER HILLS AUS 15:04.05 PB