Kiprop snatches gold in men's 1,500m at Daegu

Asbel Kiprop of Kenya, 22, took the gold medal in the men's 1,500m in three minutes and 35.69 seconds on Saturday night at the Daegu world championships. Kiprop's 22-year-old teammate Silas Kiplagat finished second in 3:35.92. Matthew Centrowitz of the United States collected the bronze in 3:36.08. With the victory, Kiprop became the first Kenyan to win world title in this event. Before Daegu, Kiprop won gold in this event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He also claimed victory in the 2007 All-Africa Games in Algiers. Kenya, though being one of Africa's most formidable athletics powers, had surprisingly never landed gold in this event at a World Championships before the Daegu worlds. Kiprop also continued the theme of African-born 1500m winners -- a theme that has run from 1987 onwards. The young runner said the win would serve as a great motivation to defend his Olympic title in 2012 in London, which he said would make him "a great athlete". "Everybody is happy with this win, the first ever for us in the 1,500m at the Championships. I am sure we'll have a reception at the State House when we return home," he said, referring to the official residence of the President of Kenya. Talking of his silver medalist teammate, Kiprop said he knew Silas very well, who beat Kiprop in the Kenyan trials. "I am grateful I managed to hold him all the way," Kiprop added. Kiplagat said he was "a little bit disappointed" because the man who got the gold medal was the man he usually beat. "He started his final sprint earlier than I expected. I fought and fought but I could not reach him. Today is his, (and) tomorrow will be mine. For 2012 (in London), I must get the gold medal then," Kiplagat added.