Charles Kamathi (KEN) (© Getty Images)
World 10,000 metres champion Charles Kamathi overcame a groin injury to win the 4-km race at the Kenyan Police Cross Cross Country Championships on Friday (7 Feb), and declared his ambitions for the World Cross Country Championships in Lausanne this March.
"I decided to run this race to gain speed. I have been going slowly lately following the recent re-emergence of a groin injury but I am hoping for the best," said the 25-year-old Kamathi.
"I will run in the 12-km race during the national championships and I hope to make the Kenyan team for the World Cross Country Championships," said the Kenya Police Force corporal, a rank he was promoted to after beating Haile Gebrselassie to win the World 10,000m title in Edmonton.
In second place yesterday was Shadrack Kosgei (12:26) and Ben Maiyo was third in 12:27.
World 4-km bronze medallist in Dublin last year, Isabella Ochichi was beaten into second place in the women’s race by the little known Jane Makonyi, but was quick to dispel any fears about her form. Makonyi was timed at 14:12.13 and Ochichi 14:15.06.
"I will fight to get a place in the national team and my aim is to improve on the bronze which I won last year, when the World Championships are held in Switzerland this year. I am looking at a silver at worst and a gold at best," Ochichi, 23, said, continuing, “I trained very hard last week and I was a little bit stiff today, hence my second position.”
Ann Wamboi won the 8-km senior women's race in 30:29 while Johnson Muiruri won the senior men's 12-km race in 38:42.
The Police Championships preceded the Kenya Prisons Cross Country Championships that are due to be held on Saturday ahead of the National Championships-cum-World Championships trials which will take place on 22 February.
Leading results:
4-km Senior Men
1 Charles Kamathi 12:25
2 Shadrack Kosgei 12:26
3 Ben Maiyo 12:27
4 Patrick Ndhiwa 12:31
5 Gilbert Okari 12:32
12-km Senior Men
1 Johnson Muiruri 38:42
2 Geoffrey Siele 39:18
3 Peter Kipkazi 39:23
4 David Ndegwa 39:26
5 Kipchoge Rono 39:29
4-km Senior Women
1 Jane Makonyi 14:12.13
2 Isabella Ochichi 14:15.06
3 Maria Busienei 14:55.95
4 Mary Njeri 15:02.97
5 Esther Maina 15:05.56
8-km Senior Women
1 Ann Wamboi 30:29
2 Neliah Asiba 30:54
3 Lydia Kurgat 30:58
4 Rispa Langat 31:05
5 Esther Saina 31:27
Ndereba triumphs in Prisons' championships
8 February 2003 - Catherine Ndereba retained the Kenya Prisons' Cross Country 8km title on Saturday after shrugging off a strong competition from her younger sister Anastacia, and Margaret Okayo.
At the same meet, held some 25-km north east of Kenya's capital Nairobi, World short course champion Edith Masai was humbled by Commonwealth Games 10,000 metres champion Selina Kosgei, in the 4km race.
Kosgei and Masai ran together for the best part of the race until the final stretch when the 28-year old athlete outsprinted Masai to cross the line in 13:13.
Masai, who attributed her defeat to weather conditions after staying in Europe until January 25, was timed at 13:15. Jessica Obare was third in 13:27. 1996 Atlanta Olympics 5000 metres silver medalist Pauline Konga came fifth in 14:18, while Helen Chepngeno, the only Kenyan woman to have won the World Cross Country long race (in Budapest in 1994), trailed in ninth place in 14:44.
"I had not worked on my finish and speed since returning back home. The weather conditions also affected me but let's see what happens at the Nationals. I can promise you I will retain my (World) title," said Masai.
Ndereba controlled the women's 8-km race, despite a spirited fight by her younger sibling, Anastacia, who won both the Venice and Turin Marathons last year, and Okayo, the Boston City Marathon winner.
Taking advantage of Susan Chepkemei's absence, who is recovering from a heel injury picked at last year's Great North Run, Ndereba stayed with the leading pack led by her younger sister and Okayo until the last loop. It was at that point that she went up into a faster gear which proved too much for the opposition.
"Before confirming participation in any spring marathon, I want to fight for a place in the national team so that I can represent Kenya for the first time in a serious championships like the World Cross," said Ndereba, former twice winner of both the Boston and Chicago Marathons. "I have to run for my country in these championships before I retire," she said without indicating when that would be.
In the men's race, 20-year old Luke Kibet won a double, claiming victories in 4-km in 11:20 and 12-km race in 35:45. Christopher Kandie, winner of last year's Hamburg Marathon, finished seventh in 36:52.
Leading results:
12-km Senior Men
1 Luke Kibet 35:45
2 John Kipchumba 36:03
3 Sammy Njuguna 36:21
4 John Kiprono 36:34
5 Peter Ndegwa 36:46
4-km Senior Men
1 Luke Kibet 11:20
2 Evans Kipchumba 11:26
3 Albert Okemwa 11:33
4 Anthony Nyamwamu 11:35
5 Edwin Koech 11:40
21-km Men
1 Benjamin Itok 1:03:03
2 Nicholas Kibet 1:03:59
3 Moses Cheserek 1:04:12
4 Julius Randich 1:04:26
5 Joseph Mwangi 1:04:38
8-km Senior Women
1 Catherine Ndereba 27:37
2 Margaret Okayo 27:43
3 Anastacia Ndereba 27:45
4 Gladys Asiba 28:13
5 Ruth Kutol 28:40
4-km Senior Women
1 Selina Kosgei 13:13
2 Edith Masai 13:15
3 Jesica Obare 13:27
4 Magdaline Syombua 14:07
5 Pauline Konga 14:18
21-km Women
1 Grace Wanjiru 1:22:05
2 Everline Cherotich 1:25:26
3 Peris Poywo 1:26:59
4 Priscilla Morogo 1:31:47
5 Monica Akoth 1:43:57
