From six laps of the 25 to go, the race was reduced to an internal competition between the pair and two-time World Cross champion, Emily Chebet, but at the bell all the way to the home-straight, Kiplagat, the two-time Berlin Marathon winner, looked poised to fulfil her favourite role and land the honours.
However, Chepkirui, fifth at the 2010 World Half Marathon Championships had other ideas, keeping close to the 2009 World Cross champion before getting on her inside and picking her pocket for the gold only two steps from the line in a lifetime best of 32:09.35.
Kiplagat, who stumbled across the line and fell took silver in 32:09.58 as Chebet, who had long settled for the third medal confirmed it in 32:10.82, a career best in another imposing distance running masterclass from Kenya.
The beaming Kenyans who received warm applause from the Hampden Park crowd for given them a memorable race went on a lap of honour chuckling about the dramatic climax.
From the onset with Kiplagat playing the role of captain, the Kenyans went out in front and cut the field into two with 15-laps to go with Ugandan pair, Toroitich Chebet and Vanis Chemutai as well as home runner, Beth Potter paying close attention.
The two-time Berlin winner, Chepkirui whose only other medal for Kenya before her crowning moment was 1500m silver at the 2011 All Africa Games and Chebet took turns to push the pace before the home crowd was roused when Potter took charge and led the field until seven and a half laps to go.
Kiplagat led her compatriots to ease past her in a turn of pace that effectively killed the competition and for the next 1200m to the bell, the Kenyans opened the gap between them and the challengers to an insurmountable lead but all bets were off in the final lap.
With 300m, the favourite deployed the afterburners but could not build the significant lead over Chepkirui who hang on her coattails before a trailing runner with 40m to go saw Kiplagat step outside.
That gave the winner a chance to get inside and push for gold, completing the upset when Kiplagat’s lunge to the line only saw her tumble to silver in a breathtaking conclusion.
England’s Kate Avery who motored from the back won a neck-to-neck battle for fourth against Potter with 32:33.35 against 32:33.36, both lifetime bests as the Ugandans Chebet (32:41.95) and Chemutai (33:11.98) coming home further back in sixth and eighth.
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