Cherono defends 3000m title as World Junior Championships kick-off

  KENYA'S Mercy Cherono defended her 3000m title in fine style to ensure the World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada got underway with a bang.

DEFENDING CHAMP: Mercy Cherono, pictured claiming the 3000m title at the 2008 World Junior Championships, has returned to the top of the podium in Moncton

Cherono, who claimed the title in 2008 as well as clinching world junior cross country gold earlier this year, clocked a world leading time of 8:55.07 minutes, holding blistering finishes from Emebet Anteneh and Layes Abdullayev at bay.

"It feels so good - I was so happy to defend my gold," said Cherono. "The best part was that I felt so comfortable out there. My plan was to defend my gold. However, the race was difficult because of the weather and I expected to have more of a lead at the end of the race."

Great Britain's Emelia Gorecka, who is coached by Mick Woods, who guided Steph Twell to world junior 1500m gold in 2008, came home 11th, clocking 9:18.43 and just missing out on a new personal best.

"I'm definitely in better shape than that, but it was a really physical race and I'm not used to that, so I took a lot from it and I did well to hang on like I did," said World School Games champion Gorecka, who at 16 was the youngest athlete in the field.

"I was on the outside for quite a lot of it but I took everything on board; I'm just not used to the physical side of things. The time was pretty irrelevant and to come so close to my PB is something.

"It was hard. I've moved up to such a high level, but it was great to get the experience.

"It's hard to maintain a steady pace in a Championships race because it's about winning, not getting times, but I managed to get a lot of experience and I almost equalled my PB which is good enough for now."