DAEGU (AP) -- Kenya swept both the women's marathon and 10,000 meters at the world championship Saturday to finish the opening day with a perfect six-for-six medals.
Edna Kiplagat crashed chest-forward on the street late in the marathon only to recover and lead her nation to an unprecedented sweep in the race. The women in the 10,000 were just as perfect in the only other final of the day.
Vivian Cheruiyot led a Kenyan sweep on the track as they dominated from halfway. All other challengers, including their Ethiopian rivals, failed to keep pace as Cheruiyot beat Sally Kipyego and defending champion Linet Masai.
Cheruiyot won in 30 minutes, 48.98 seconds, holding an edge of 1.06 seconds over Kipyego. Cheruiyot will be seeking a long-distance double as she also is the defending champion in the 5,000.
Kenya's perfect start contrasted with the fortunes of Olympic 400 champion Christine Ohuruogu and Australian pole vaulter Steve Hooker.
The British runner was disqualified for a false start in her opening heat and the defending pole vault champion from Australia no-heighted in qualification, both seeing their injury-marred season get even worse.
``Just mentally, it wasn't there. I had no confidence in what I was doing out there,'' Hooker said. ``I wasn't feeling it.''
Kiplagat certainly felt the stinging pain when she tangled up with teammate Sharon Cherop at one of the last water stations and suddenly was on all fours.
``I was a little shocked,'' Kiplagat said. ``What was in my mind was I wasn't sure if I was going to pick up the pace again.''
Also shocked, Cherop helped pick up her veteran teammate and off they went again as a trio heading through the 27 degree C (80 degree F) morning heat and humidity of inland South Korea.
Kiplagat won in a slow 2 hours, 28 minutes, 43 seconds to claim the first gold medal of the competition.
Hard-pressed to equal their third-place finish in the medals table from two years ago, they gave Kenya the perfect start to the competition with Kiplagat, a 31-year-old mother of two, leading Priscah Jeptoo and Cherop to the line.
The three embraced and gingerly walked away, arms warmly interlocking to celebrate the victory. No nation had ever clinched such a triple since the championships started 28 years ago.
``I hope this result will give motivation to our Kenyan team members,'' Jeptoo said.
David Rudisha added to Kenya's cheer, coasting in qualifying for an 800-meter race he is heavily favored to win on Tuesday.
And Kenya will be counting on more medals in the women's 10,000 later Saturday, the only two finals on the opening day.
Vivian Cheruiyot, who won the 5,000 two years ago in Berlin, is aiming for a long-distance double this time. The Kenyan only started running competitively in the 10,000 this year, but is already one of the favorites along with defending champion Linet Masai and Meseret Defar of Ethiopia.
Whatever happens during that race, it is unlikely it will match the roar at the 53,000-capacity Daegu Stadium for the first appearance of Usain Bolt. The Jamaican will start his quest for a third sprint triple in as many major championships.
After main rival Asafa Powell withdrew injured, it seems nothing can stop him from winning the marquee event of the championships. He will run the 200 and 4x100 relay race later.
The biggest shock early in the balmy evening session was the elimination of Ohuruogu. She could be one of the biggest local stars of the London Olympics next year, but she missed her chance to win another world title in the biggest warmup for the games.
The 2007 world champion stood in stunned silence for more than a minute after she was disqualified for her false start and given a red card.
Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards-Ross easily went into Sunday's semifinals _ Felix with effortless grace and Richards-Ross putting in her big push in the final stretch to beat Jamaican rival Shericka Williams.
American decathlon favorites Trey Hardee and Ashton Eaton led the standings after three of 10 events, with Eaton losing the top spot to the defending champion after finishing 17th in the shot put.
<관련기사>
케냐 체루이요트 女 10,000ｍ 金
(대구=연합뉴스) 장현구 기자 = 케냐의 여자 철각 비비안 체루이요트(28)가 제13회 대구 세계육상선수권대회 여자 10,000ｍ에서 금메달을 따냈다.
체루이요트는 27일 대구스타디움에서 열린 대회 첫째날 10,000ｍ 결승에서 30분48초98의 개인 최고기록으로 가장 먼저 결승선을 통과했다.
2009년 베를린 세계대회 5,000ｍ에서 우승했던 체루이요트는 이번 대회에서 10,000ｍ까지 두 종목을 석권하겠다고 선언했다.
체루이요트 실제로 지난 대회 이 종목 금메달리스트였던 팀 동료 리넷 마사이(22·30분53초59)를 3위로 밀어내고 새로운 장거리 여왕에 등극했다.
2위와 4위도 각각 케냐의 샐리 킵예고(26·30분50초04)와 프리스카 체로노(31·30분56초43)가 차지해 케냐가 이 종목 1~4위까지 독식했다.
특히 이날 오전 열린 여자 마라톤에서 에드나 키플라갓(32)이 금메달을 획득하는 등 케냐는 이날 결승전이 치러진 두 종목에서 메달을 싹쓸이했다.
세계 대회에서 여자 10,000ｍ를 한 나라가 석권하기는 에티오피아(2001년·2005년)에 이어 케냐가 두 번째다.
티루네시 디바바라는 걸출한 스타를 보유했던 에티오피아가 이 종목 최강을 지켰으나 이제 주도권은 맞수 케냐로 넘어갔다.
400ｍ 트랙을 25바퀴 도는 이날 레이스에서 체루이요트는 9바퀴를 남기고 3코너 곡선주로부터 치고 나와 마사이, 킵예고와 치열한 선두 다툼을 벌였다.
이어 2바퀴 반을 남긴 2코너 직선 주로부터 막판 스퍼트, 경쟁자를 따돌리고 영예를 안았다.
