Tactics cost Kiptanui his chance of gold

MOSES KIPTANUI, the biggest name in the 3,000 steeplechase event, was counting the cost of mistaken tactics early this morning after he had been upstaged by his younger Joseph Keter in the Olympic final.

With the arrogance of a man who holds the sixth fastest time in the world, Kiptanui strode into the lead from the start and attempted the do it the hard way from the front.

Successful Olympic running demands that arrogance be tempered with realism and, for all his vast experience, the world title holder failed to take this basic message on board.

Keter tucked himself in behind Kiptanui from the off and was content to lope along in his shadow for 2,900 metres. Kiptanui, whose preparation has been punctuated by illness this summer, may have sensed the worst when he failed to shake off his abrasive pursuer at the bell. And as he glanced over his shoulder at the man stalking him going down the back straight for the last time, he saw the look of supreme confidence.

Keter, prepared to bide his time, stayed in the supporting role until he had navigated the water jump for the last time but then, gradually, he began to eat into the world champions lead.

At that point Kiptanui, weakened perhaps by his earlier sicknesses, had nothing more to give and Keter, sensing the opportunity of a lifetime, burst past him halfway down the finishing straight to win cleverly in a time of eight minutes 07.12 seconds, as opposed to Kiptanui's 8.08.33.

The other big surprise was the fact that the Kenyans failed to win all three medals. That was down to another brave run by the Italian European champion Alessandro Lambruschini.

After Matthew Birir the third Kenyan athlete - had run comfortably in close proximity to Keter and Kiptanui for six of the eight laps, the Italian sprinted past them and, for a couple of fleeting strides, he looked as if he might split the two Kenyans. That promise was, however, stillborn. After he had made an expensive mistake at the second last obstacle, much of the power left his legs, but still his was a run full of courage and commitment.

Meanwhile, Chioma Ajunwa caused one of the biggest upsets of the Games when she gave Nigeria their first Olympic women's long jump title.

Competing in only her third meeting after returning from a four year ban for doping this year, Ajunwa jumped 7.12 metres in her first attempt to clinch gold.

World champion Fiona May, the former Briton who now competes for Italy, took silver with 7.02 and ex Olympic champion Jackie Joyner Kersee just grabbed bronze with a last effort of 7.00.

Joyner Kersee, who has been suffering with a ham string injury and competed with a thigh heavily strapped, won her sixth Olympic medal.

Germany's tradition in shot putting was enhanced when Astrid Kumbernuss took the women's title by a margin of 68 centimetres from China's Sui Xinmei.