News24 May 2009


Soi, Kenya's sprint find; Lagat completes a middle-distance double at Kenyan Armed Forces Champs

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Kenya’s latest sprint sensation Kipkemei Soi (right) of Kahawa Garrison wins the 100m ahead of national champion Thomas Masinde of the Kenya Navy (left) at the Kenya Armed Forces Athletics Championships in Nairobi (© MOHAMMED AMIN/DAILY NATION)

With an endless supply of distance running stars, Kenya has been struggling to break even in the sprints. But if the weekend’s action at the Armed Forces Athletics Championships is anything to go by, then there are exciting times ahead indeed.

Since the quartet of Charles Asati, Hezekiah Nyamao, Julius Sang and Robert Ouko won the 4x400m gold medal at the Munich Olympics, Kenyans have struggled to impress in the short distances.

But the last few track and field meetings of the New KCC/Athletics Kenya series have unearthed a fresh talent, soldier Kipkemei Soi.

Soi was the star attraction at the Moi International Sports Centre in Naiorobi where he ran 10.0 seconds to win the forces’ 100 metres title, in the process upstaging national champion Tom Masinde, who holds the electric timed 10.28 national record.

Soi, running for the Kahawa Garrison, completed a double, winning the 200m in 21.0 and called for a bigger push to help Kenya get out of the sprinting woods.

“I plan to raise the bar in Kenyan sprinting,” he said after his impressive performances that were, however, recorded in hand held timing. “But I would like my colleagues to give the push so that we can improve on the national time.”

The forces championships, the second biggest in terms of collection of talent after the national championships, saw Nancy Jebet Lagat finally get into cruising altitude. After a slow start to the season, the Olympic 1500m champion completed a 800m and 1500m double to show that her plans for the World Championships in Athletics in Berlin this summer have taken-off.

The Moi Air Base star was 24 seconds outside her personal best in the 1500m, winning in 4:24.1 before taking the 800m title in 2:10.3.

The 1500m race was closely contested with Lagat’s team-mate, Iness Chenonge, just 0.6 seconds behind the winner and Veronicah Nyaruai of Laikipia Air Base third in 4.25.7.

But Lagat played down her brilliant show at the competitive meeting which was a welcome relief to her fans after her eighth placing at the Doha Grand Prix. “I’ve not hit my peak yet. People should not judge my form from these performances. It’s still early in the season,” she noted.

Other notable winners in the forces’ weekend of competition were Abel Mutai (8:31.0) in the 3000m Steeplechase, Barnabas Kosgei (28:44.3) in the 10,000m and Mark Kiptoo (13:38.3) in the 5000m for the men, and Lineth Chepkurui who completed a 5000m (15:58.1) and 10,000m (32:47.1) double in the women’s programme.

Up next for Kenya’s track fans is the Kenya Prisons track and field meeting in Nairobi, 28 and 29 May and the Kenya Police track and field meeting, also in Nairobi, 5 and 6 June.

The national championships will be held on 25 and 27 June with the trials for the World Championships in Athletics on 25 July.

The weekend’s forces meeting drew high profile spectators, among them marathon greats Martin Lel, Paul Tergat, Robert Cheruiyot and a collection of past and present Kenyan track superstars led by 800m World champion Alfred Kirwa Yego.

Elias Makori for the IAAF

Selected results from Armed Forces Athletics Championships:

MEN


100m: 1. Kipkemei Soi 10.0, 2. Wallace Mwaura 10.3, 3. Tom Masinde 10.5, 4. Stephen Okachi 10.6.
200m: 1. Kipkemei Soi 21.0, 2. Mark Mutai 21.2, 3. Vincent Mumo 21.4, 4. Jackson Mwaura 21.6.
400m: 1. Jonathan Kibet 45.8, 2. Vincent Mumo 46.1, 3. Mark Mutai 46.3, 4. Sammy Rono 46.4.
800m: Jackson Kivuva 1:48.7, 2. Hosea Kandie 1:49.1, 3. Kaus Mauti 1:49.4, 4. Michael Rotich 1:49.7.
1500m: 1. Gideon Gathimba 3:44.4, 2. Jackson Kivuva 3:44.8, 3. Fredrick Korir 3:45.4, 4. Bernard Kaptingei 3:45.7.
3000m Steeplechase: 1. Abel Mutai 8:31.0, 2. Patrick Nthiwa 8:31.1, 3. Abraham Chirchir 8:32.4, 4. Linus Chumba 8:33.0, 5. Abraham Cherono 8:37.3.
5000m: 1. Mark Kiptoo 13:38.3, 2. Joseph Ebuya 13;38.5, 3. Vincent Kiprop 13:42.3.
10,000m: 1. Barnabas Kosgei 28:44.3, 2. Joseph Ebuya 28:44.6, 3. Josphat Kiprono Menjo 28:45.10, 4. Kiplimo Kimutai 28:47.2, 5. John Korir 28:49.2, 6. William Chebon 28:50.3.

WOMEN

100m: 1. Gladys Thiongo 12.3, 2. Deborah Nyasunguta 12.5, 3. Georgina Mbinya 12.7, 4. Anne Karauni 12.8, 5. Helen Adhiambo 13.3.
200m: 1. Gladys Thiongo 25.9, 2. Georgina Mbinya 26.2, 3. Deborah Nyasuguta 26.5, 4. Hellen Adhiambo 26.7, 5. Catherine Nandi 27.0.
400m: 1. Charity Wandia 55.5, 2. Jane Chelagat 56.3, 3. Nelly Cheptanui 56.7, 4. Gladys Thiongo 58.5, 5. Catherine Nandi 58.8.
800m: 1. Nancy Jebet Lagat 2:10.3, 2. Jane Chelagat 2:12.1, 3. Charity Wandia 2:12.5, 4. Nelly Cheptanui 2:12.8.
1500m: 1. Nancy Jebet Lagat 4:24.1, 2. Iness Chenonge 4:24.7, 3. Veronica Nyaruai 4:25.7, 4. Colleta Chepchirchir 4:26.7, 5. Jackline Chirchir 4:29.7.
5000m: 1. Lineth Chepkurui 15:58.1, 2. Iness Chenonge 15:59.4, 3. Peninah Arusei 16:06.6, 4. Sally Barsosio 16:18.4, 5. Mercy Njoroge 16:48.4.
10,000m: 1. Lineth Chepkurui 32:47.1, 2. Peninah Arusei 33:01.5, 3. Sally Barsosio 33:47.3, 4. Irene Kwambai 34:31.8, 5. Jemimah Chelagat 34:43.4.

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