Lucas Kibet en route to his 10,000m win at the Kenyan Police Championships (© Mohammed Amin)
Vienna Marathon winner Lucas Kibet and 2002 Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion Selina Kosgei were the star athletes on the first day of the Kenya Prisons Inter-Provincial championships at the Nyayo National Stadium, downtown Nairobi on Saturday.
The 2006 Libson Half Marathon Champion Kosgei won the 5000m in a three horse final sprint bringing together Caroline Kwambai and 2004 Olympics Marathon silver medallist Catherine Ndereba.
In the end, Kosgei proved to have a more powerful final kick to stop the watch at 16:20.6 on a sunny but mildly hot afternoon. Kwambai just managed to overhaul Ndereba with 16:23.2 against 16:27.0 for second in the highlight match of the day.
Ndereba’s third came hardly a week since winning the 10k category of the ING Ottawa Marathon and seven days before she lines up against amongst others World Cross Country champion Lorna Kiplagat of the Netherlands in the New York Road Runners Club Mini 10km in New York's Central Park on 9 June.
She was contemplating taking part in the 10,000m final tomorrow (Sunday) depending on her overnight form.
During the morning session held in cool and overcast conditions, Kibet won the 10,000m in 28:45.3 after an exciting race which was reduced to a three-man battle in the final lap.
He was able to shake off second placed Joseph Birech (28:51.2) who was running as a guest and Henry Maiyo of Rift Valley (29:03.7) as they raced neck and neck into the home straight.
In the other high profile final of the day, Cecilia Kiplagat won the discus in 40.43 metres only a few days after winning a double - javelin and discus - in the Eastern Africa athletics championships in Kampala, Uganda earlier in the week.
Ann Too finished second yesterday with 37.00.
Peter Njenga (Daily Nation) for the IAAF
Results -
MEN -
10,000m:
1. Lucas Kibet, Nairobi, 28:45.3
2. Joseph Birech, Guest, 28:51.2
3. Henry Maiyo, RVP, 29:03.7
WOMEN -
5000m:
1. Selina Kosgei, Nairobi, 16:20.6
2. Caroline Kwambai, RVP, 16:23.2
3. Catherine Ndereba, Nairobi, 16:27.0
