Kenyans set world records tumbling in Bahamas

KENYA ’S MEN matched the achievements of the women’s 4x1,500 metres quartet as they claimed a new world record at the IA AF World Relays in Nassau.

The Kenya team of Collins Cheboi, Silas Kiplagat, James Kiplagat Magut and A sbel Kiprop crossed the line in a time of 14 minutes 22.22 seconds, more than 17 seconds clear of the United States in second, while Ethiopia finished third with a national record.

It capped a meeting where the records had tumbled after Jamaica’s 4x200 metres men’s quartet broke a 20-year-old world record on Saturday.

N i c ke l A shmeade, Warren Weir, Jermaine Brown and 2011 world 100m champion Yohan Blake combined to post a time of 1 minute 18.63 seconds to eclipse the 1 min 18.68 secs mark set by an all-US quartet in 1994.

St Kitts and Nevis f inished second, while France took third and established a new European record of 1:20.66.

Meanwhile, another world record also fell in dramatic style as Kenya’s women’s 4x1,500m quartet improved the previous mark by more than half a minute.

The world best of 17:05.72, which was set by another Kenyan team in Nairobi last month, was cut to 16 mins 33.58 secs by Mercy Cherono, Faith Kipyegon, Irene Jelagat and Hellen Obir.

Cheronoopenedwithaleg of 4 mins 07.4 secs, leading at the handover, Kipyegon followed with 4:08.5, Jalegat ran a leg of 4:10.8 with Obiri bringing Kenya home with 4:06.9.