MANCHESTER, July 27: Kenya’s Wilberforce Talel led a Kenyan 1-2 in the first track final at the Commonwealth Games on Friday as he won a thrilling mens’ 10,000m in a Games record of 27min 45.39sec.

The 22-year-old edged out Paul Kosgei while long-time leader, John Yuda of Tanzania, was third beating John Korir Cheruiyot of Kenya to the bronze and providing an appropriate response to the latter’s claim that the Kenyans would cleansweep all the distance races.

Talel, who took bronze in March as Yuda won silver in the world cross country long race, charged from behind in the final straight to deprive Kosgei of the title virtually on the line.

Yuda, who avoids early-morning training in Tanzania because of his fear of being attacked by hyenas, also produced a final effort dragging his weary body past Cheruiyot literally on the line.

The 23-year-old Yuda produced the decisive upping of the pace with 11 laps to go spreadeagling the field and reducing it to just the three Kenyans, himself and compatriot Martin Sulle.

Sulle was always hanging on by his fingertips and when Kosgei took over the lead with just over five laps to go he was gone and it was down to the battle royal between the quartet which ended in a quite fabulous finish.—AFP