David Kemboi (left) battles with David Lang'at (194) at the Baringo 20km (© David Macharia)
David Kemboi’s hill climbing endurance saw him overcome strong challenge to become the 2006 Baringo 20km (formerly the event was a half marathon) champion.
The last two kilometres of the race were hilly and the 30-year-old runner from Marakwet took advantage of that to shake off David Lang’at and another five runners who had hung on to the eventual victor’s pace for the better part of the last half of the race.
From this year the distance has been reduced by a kilometre. Kemboi covered the 20km distance in 57:28, while Lang’at who finished second at the Nyeri Half Marathon took second in 57:34.
The title was up for grabs in the absence of two-time winner Mubarak Shami (Richard Yatich) of Qatar who was busy doing duty for his adopted country in the Asian Games in Doha.
Kemboi said he was not sure of winning the race until the last two kilometres when he realized that the hill section was taking its toll on his strongest challengers.
With five kilometers to go, there had been no clear leader as Kemboi, Lang’at and Moses Kigen remained in contention and Stephen Chelimo followed closely. However, with three kilometres to go Kigen was dropped, and he went on to lose the third spot to Chelimo in the final stages of the race.
The race organized by World Marathon record holder Paul Tergat and sponsored by mobile phone service provider Safaricom started at the Kabartonjo trading centre and ended at Kabarnet high school in Kabarnet town – both places in the Baringo district, the birth place of Tergat.
Ayabei takes women’s race honours
Joan Ayabei won the women 15km race in 50:08 after setting a fast pace from the start that saw the rest of the field lag behind. She said from next year she will venture in full marathon running after running cross country for many years.
Marathoner Pauline Atodonyang from West Pokot was second in 50:41, and third was Philomena Chepchirchir in 50:58.
Juniors
This year’s event also had two other new events; a junior men and junior women races. The 8km race for junior men was won by Nickson Kiprono in 22:28 beating Alex Kimeli to second place in 22:31. Junior girls’ went to Chebon Kosgey in 15:00. Second was Cheboi Kiptui in 15:13.22 and third was Lucy Bowen in 12:22.
Stars turnout
The event had among its spectators several former and current big names in athletics among them Olympic Steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi, World champions Benjamin Limo and Saif Saaeed Shaheen, Martin Keino, Patrick Sang, Moses Tanui, Bernard Barmasai, and Tergat’s long time training partner Joshua Chelang’a.
David Macharia (Daily Nation) for the IAAF
Results
20km MEN;
(1) David Kemboi 57:28
(2) David Lang’at 57:34
(3) Stephen Chelimo 57:38
(4) Moses Kigen 57:51
(5) Bellor Yator 57:52
(6) Jacob Yator 58:15
(7) Joshua Kirui 58:24
(8) Reuben Cherutich 58:27
(9) James Yatich 58:29
(10) Willy Korir 58:41.
15km WOMEN
(1) Joan Ayabei 50:08
(2) Pauline Atodonyang 50:41
(3) Philomena Chepchirchir 50:58
(4) Philomena Cheyech 51:03
(5) Sharon Cherop 51:16
(6) Viola Bor 51:33.
JUNIORS
8km Men
(1) Nickson Kiprono 22:28
(2) Alex Kimeli 22:32
(3) Josephat Kiprop 22:38
(4) Richard Bartale 22:40
(5) Amos Rotich 22:44
(6) Willy Kamuren 22:48.
6km Women
(1) Chebon Kosgey 15:00
(2) Cheboi Kiptui 15:13
(3) Lucy Bowen 15:22
(4) Gladys Tarus 15:40
(5) Dasy Kiprop 15:42
(6) Locheria Chepkonga 15:47
