Songok defeats Kipchoge

Eliud Kipchoge, the World 5000m track champion and the World Junior Cross Country champion was beaten into second position in the 4km men’s race at the Rift Valley Provincial cross country championships held at the Mosoriot Teachers College on Saturday (31 Jan).

2001 World Youth 1500m champion Isaac Songok won the race in 10:47 after outsprinting Kipchoge and 2001 World 5000m champion Richard Limo in the last lap. Kipchoge finished in 10:49 while Limo was third in 10:53.

Moses Kigen finished fourth in 10.55.43 and Eliud Kirui 10.55.86 for fifth.

Another high-flyer who was humbled at these races (where the Athletics Rift Valley selected their team for the National Cross Country Championships to be held in Nairobi on February 13), was William Kipsang, who won the Amsterdam Marathon last October. Kipsang was second in the men’s 12km race
in 35:53 behind the winner Hosea Kogo, who clocked 35:50. Philip Manyim was third in 33:59.

Timbilil in good form

Former 10,000 national champion Alice Timbilil won the women’s 8km race in 26:33, while up and coming 16 year-old Chebichi Yator won the 6km women’s race, beating national junior cross country champion Jepchumba Koech who was fourth. Gladys Chemweno and Chemtai Rionotukei were second and third respectively.

Salome Chepchumba and Beatrice Chepchumba were first and runner-up in the women’s 4km race with a time of 12:46 and 12:48 respectively. 

Augustine Choge won the junior men’s race in 23:14 ahead of Barnabas Kosgei, while Hosea Macharinyang was third.

Leading Results

Men:
4km
1 Isaac Songok 10:47
2 Eliud Kipchoge 10:49
3 Richard Limo 10:53

8km
1 Augustine Choge 23:14
2 Barnabas Kosgei 23:15
3 Hosea Macharnyang 23:25

12km
1 Hosea Kogo 35:50
2 William Kipsang 35:53
3 Philip Manyim 35:59

Women
4km
1 Salome Chepchumba 12:46
2 Beatrice Chepchumba 12:48
3 Rebecca Limo 12:59

6km
1 Chebichi Yator 19:38
2 Gladys Chemweno 19:39
3 Chemutai Rionotukei 19:41

8km
1 Alice Timbilil 26:33
2 Jepkorir Aiyabei 26:52
3 Fridah Domongole 27:21

Jane Gakunyi wins in Muranga

31 January - At the Central Kenya Provincial cross country championships in Muranga, 2003 World Cross 4km bronze medallist Jane Gakunyi won the short course race in 12:12 to ensure she was included in the team set to represent the province at the
National Cross Country Championships and thereafter fight for a place in the national team for the World Cross.

Nancy Wambui and Karienya Miriam Karienya were runner-up and third in 12:55 and 13:03 respectively.

Ngingi Karanja won the men’s 12km race in 34:43 followed by Peter Ndegwa in 34:45.

Simon Arusei clocked 35:08 to finish in  third position ahead of Isaac Arusei who took fourth position in 35.16.

Leading results:

Men

4km
1 Stephen Njenga 11.20
2 David Njenga 11.24
3 Grodon Mugi 11.25
8km
1 Isaac Kinyua 27:11
2 Mika Njeru 27:13
3 Stanley Muiruri 27:24
12km
1 Ngingi Karanja 34:43
2 Peter Ndegwa 34:45
3 Simon Arusei 35:08

Women
4km
1 Jane Gakunyi 12.12
2 Nancy Wambui 12.55
3 Miriam Karienya 13.03
6km
1 Mercy Wanjiru 19.11
2 Margaret Wangari 19.14
3 Jane Muthoni 19.15
8km
1 Lucy Kabuu 24.24
2 Monica Wangari 25.02
3 Pauline Ngigi 25.13