Before the starting gun to the women’s 5,000m in Berlin, Vivian Cheruiyot faced the biggest obstacle between her and greatness — the equally diminutive Ethiopian Meseret Defar.
So often in the past, Meseret had formed routine of trouncing Cheruiyot be it at a championship, golden league and grand prix meeting or perhaps even in her dreams. Eleven times the pair had clashed prior to Saturday night and in all but one, in Brussels last September, Meseret or Messi if you prefer, came out on top.
Vivian Cheruiyot, winner of the women’s 5,000m race
"All those times, I realised she was always waiting until the last 400m to kick past me and win. This time, I trained for speed especially in the last 200m.
"Towards the end, Meseret went ahead of me and was blocking me from the inside lane but I chose to go outside and kick as hard as I could in the last 50m and thanks to God, it worked," she said in utter joy after lifting what to her was not only a huge monkey but an orang-utan off her back.
"I was content at the back until the last 200m and beating her so close to the line as she had done in Osaka was the best moment in my life," Cheruiyot said with a radiant smile.
Not keen on hogging the limelight all by herself, Cheruiyot paid homage to team-mates, silver winner, Sylvia Kibet and sixth finisher, Iness Chenonge.
World champion
Her 14:57.97 victory puts her in the limelight, transferring the pressure that comes with being a world champion from the Ethiopian onto her shoulders.
"I will not think of that now. There are many things coming up — Africa Championships, Commonwealth Games, many races and what is important for me is to keep myself in good shape for the next World Championships and attempt to keep my title," the 25-year-old said.
Born in Logosho, Kaptarakwa in Marakwet District, Cheruiyot is one of the few Kenyan junior protÈgÈs that have lived to their potential. The Singore Girls alumnus who schooled with silver medallist Kibet and women’s 800m silver winner, Janeth Jepkosgei, among other, added the world title to the second medal she scooped at Beijing Olympics
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