Eldoret, Kenya - The cream of Kenyan track stars was in Qatar for the Doha Super Grand Prix on Friday, but that did not take the shine off the fifth New KCC/Athletics Kenya weekend track and field meet at the Eldoret Municipal Stadium.

Considering that the competition was at the hub of Kenya’s distance running, it was always going to be a spectacular weekend alike for upstarts and seasoned runners shaking off the pre-season dust and trying to get into shape to fight for tickets at next month’s highly competitive Kenyan trials for the IAAF World Championships in Berlin.

350 turn out for men’s 5000m!

And what an amazing turnout in was!

The men’s 10,000m, 5,000m, 1,500m and 800m races were all run in separate heats due to the large number of athletes these races attracted. In the 10,000m, 100 athletes turned out forcing the organisers to split the race into three heats with the winners picked by the best times. The men’s 5000m drew a massive 350 athletes while 205 runners showed up for the 800m, turnouts that would make any country seeking to break into distance running green with envy.

Among the stars of the weekend was World Cross Country Championships’ senior women’s champion Florence Kiplagat who has been nursing a nagging ankle injury she picked up in the build-up to the Amman championships in March.

Good speed workout for Kiplagat

Kiplagat chose to compete in the 1500m to pick up speed as she prepares to shift to the 10,000m and challenge for a place in the Kenyan team to Berlin.

She won the race in 4:22.8 seconds, after a sprint finish that stunned pre-race favourites Janet Kiptoo and Jebichii Yator.

Running for the Kenya Police team, for whom she also won the national cross country title earlier this year, Kiplagat, married to Kenya’s senior men’s cross country champion Moses Mosop, was cautious until the final 50 metres when she blasted away from the pair to cheers from the 4000-strong crowd that flocked the murram track stadium named after Kenya’s Olympic legend and chairman of the country’s Olympics committee, Kipchoge Keino.

The mother of one said she would gradually shift up to the 10,000m after completely shaking off her injury.

“I’m happy to have won today’s race and I’m now taking 10,000 metres race as my priority for the World Championships in Berlin  because the 5,000 metres will be so crowded and too competitive,” Kiplagat explained her programme after Saturday’s win.

The women’s 800m did not have Olympic champion and 2008 Golden League Jackpot winner, Pamela Jelimo, or World champion and Olympic silver medallist Janeth Jepkosgei with the latter still slowly building up her season and the former in Doha where she finished 11th in the 1500m.

This gave the chance to 1500m specialist, Irene Jelagat, to win a tactical race in 2:09.0 after a 54-second first lap.

“The race was tactical and the win did not come as any surprise to me because I’ve have been doing a lot of practice,” Jelagat said.

“I’m now focusing on the national trials in my 1500m speciality,” added Jelagat who trains at the high altitude Global Training Centre in Kaptagat near Eldoret.

Peninah Jepchumba of Golazo Club won the 5000m after clocking 16:57.3 and finishing ahead of Esther Jemutai (Riruta Club, Nairobi) , timed at 17:14.2.

Halson Ruto, also of Golazo Club, completed the podium places in 17:14.6.

Elizabeth Rumokal won the 10,000m, run on Friday, in 34:13.7.

Ebuya and Kemboi upstaged in 1500m by newcomer Silas Kiplagat

The men’s races were not short of upsets either as rookie Silas Kiplagat floored seasoned runners and pre-race favourites Joseph Ebuya, Sammy Kitwara and Nicholas Kemboi to win the 1500m final.

His training under former World 3000m Steeplechase record holder Moses Kiptanui seems to be paying dividends as Kiplagat blasted away with 120 metres to go to win in three minutes and 45 seconds.

Silas Kosgei, running for the Administration Police team clocked 9:04.3 to win the competitive 3,000m steeplechase ahead of Hillary Yegon of Sikowet Club (9:07.1) and David Kilimo (9:07.4), who entered the race as an individual.

Another Administration Police runner, Wilson Kiprop, took the 10,000m title in 29:24 with Peterson Wachira of Isiolo Club and Kenneth Mutai of Golazo Club following in second and third placed in 29:45.4 and 29:49.0 respectively.

The next weekend meeting will be in Mombasa on 15 and 16 May.

Elias Makori for IAAF

Selected results from the New KCC/Athletics Kenya Weekend Meeting in Eldoret:

Men:
400m hurdles: 1. Wesley Mengech 54.6, 2. Cornelius Kiplagat 55.1, 3. Geoffrey Rono 57.3.
800m: 1. Benson Lagat 1.49.0, 2. Geoffrey Koech 1.49.9, 3. Andrew Rotich 1:50.3.
1500m: 1. Silas Kiplagat 3.45, 2. William Tanui 3.46 3. Gilbert Kipsang 3.47.
3000m steeplechase: 1. Silas Kosgei 9:04.3, 2. Hillary Yegon 9:07.1, 3. David  Kilimo 9.07.4.
5000m: 1. Joseph Bett 14:14.2, 2. Leonard Langat 14:15.1, 3. John Wamahiu 14:16.8.
10,000m: 1. Wilson Kiprop 29:24.0, 2. Peterson Wachira 29:45.4, 3. Kenneth Kimutai 29:49.0

Women:
400m: 1. Betty Jelagat 63.1, 2. Ruth Kemunto 64.5, 3. Maurine Mutindi 64.9.
800m: 1. Irene Jelagat 2:09.0, 2. Cherono Koech  2:09.1, 3. Jane Jelagat 2:09.6.
1500m: 1. Florence Kiplagat 4:22.88, 2. Janet Jeptoo 4:23.5, 3. Jebichi Yator 4:31.2.
3000 steeplechase: 1. Lilian Nashiban 11:05.7  2. Judith Jepkoech 11:20.9, 3. Mercy Kiptoo 11:33.9.
5000m: 1. Peninah Jepchumba 16:57.3, 2. Esther Jemutai 17:14.2, 3. Halson Ruto 17:14.6.
10,000m: 1. Elizabeth Rumokol 34:13.7, 2. Veronicah Chepkorir 35:16.2, 3. Naomi Jepng’etich 35:28.6