By Mutwiri Mutuota in Berlin, Germany

Alfred Kirwa displayed the grit and fighting spirit he is famed for to bag the final silver for Kenya as the World Athletics Championships ended in Germany.

South Africa’s old war-horse Mbulaeni Mulaudzi gave the rainbow nation a world championships 800m double when he won the thrilling men’s race on Sunday.

The 2004 Olympics silver medallist stumbled at the finish line and barely hung on to claim gold in one-minute 45.29sec.

Kirwa, the defending champion clocked 1:45.35 with bronze medallist Yusuf Saad Kamel of Bahrain also timing the same.

Alfred Kirwa: Never say die, ever

However, it was Kirwa who got the silver after the photo finish showed he was ahead by the skin of his teeth. The silver may well be short of Kirwa who so often sets high standards for his diminutive frame but overall it is an impressive result for the country.

After favourite David Rudisha fell by the way side in the semis and Asbel Kiprop yet again contriving to trash his immense talent, it was left for fighter Kirwa to fight for spoils in the face of stiff opposition from big men, Mulaudzi and Russia’s Yuriy Borzakovsky.

The other Kenyan hopeful, rookie Jackson Kivuva (1:46.39) lost his shoe as the runners jostled for pole and finished ninth.

Kirwa’s silver brought Kenya’s medal-haul to 12 (four gold, five silver and two bronze).

Kirwa’s fighting spirit mirrored the guts displayed by Vivian Cheruiyot who against all expectation tore the form-book to snatch gold from Ethiopia’s Meseret Defar.

Whatever shreds of self-belief Abel Kirui left on Ethiopians after his record-breaking victory in the men’s marathon, Cheruiyot quashed that by relieving them of the women 5,000m world title.

After keeping the women 5,000m world title under lock and key since 2003 when Tirunesh Dibaba won in Paris, Defar and compatriots Sentayehu Ejigu (15:03.38) and Meselech Melkamu (15:03.72) who trailed in fourth and fifth received their own medicine in overdose.

"We decided to work as a team and up the pace with five laps left. They have always beaten us in the last 400m but this time, especially after seeing what Linet did to them in 10,000m, we were ready for them," Cheruiyot, who before her searing last 80m kick on Saturday night, had been led to the alter in Osaka and Beijing Olympics first by Meseret then Tirunesh.

"I’m going to celebrate this win with my husband (Moses Kiplagat), my manager Ricky Simms, coach Sammy Rono, my family and dance to music," a very excited Cheruiyot said.

"I have my revenge now after I lost bronze in Osaka on the line although that time, it came to Kenya with Priscah Jepleting. To beat Meseret on the line made me so happy.

"We planned before the race to team up and do the lapping. I went first, then Iness (Chenonge) took over and Vivian. At the end, we had said to each other whoever is strongest should go for it and Vivian was the stronger," Kibet adding she would also party to toast her achievement back home.

But yesterday, Kirwa’s silver helped wipe out the disappointment of missing out on the podium in men’s 5000m and women Marathon.

Julia Mumbi Muraga (2:28:59) finished 12th in the Marathon race won by China’s Bai Xue (2:25:15).

Irene Limika finished 21st clocking 2:31:29.

Japan’s Yoshimi Ozaki (2:25:25) returned second as Ethiopia’s Aselefech Mergia (2:25:32) sealed the podium.