John Mwangangi takes the men's race in Machakos (© Elias Makori)
Nairobi, KenyaIt could be, perhaps, a little bit premature, but there is no denying the fact that the first Athletics Kenya Cross Country Series meeting in Machakos belonged to the locals.
Training partners John Mwangangi and Caleb Mwangangi swept the senior men’s and junior men’s races in style as Margaret Wangare and Jackline Chepng’eno prevented what would have been a clean sweep by taking the senior and junior women’s titles at the Machakos High School on Saturday (7).
The conditions were totally different from last year’s when Nicholas Kamakya and Pauline Korikwiang battled with the elements to win on a muddy and slippery course.
Wangare clocked 26 minutes and 34 seconds to clinch the senior women’s race in a brave show of tactical running that keeps her dreams of making the Kenyan team to the World Cross Country Championships in Poland off to a great start.
Wangare said she was happy with her progression from the now defunct senior women’s four-kilometre race to the 8km.
“The course was the same as in 2004 when I ran the senior women’s race,” Wangari said.
“I now plan to run in at least three more races of the cross country series before I start my final preparations for the national trials.”
Caleb Mwangangi, silver medallist behind compatriot Gideon Mageka in the 1500m at the World Youth Championships in Bressanone was overjoyed when he won the junior race in 23:08.
“The conditions were great and thank God there was no rain,” he said. “I have been working on my endurance and I will keep polishing my speedwork and maintain running the 1500m on the track.”
Mwangangi said he was impressed by Olympic 1500m silver medallist Asbel Kiprop and Augustine Choge who have brilliantly mixed cross country running with the middle distance races on the track.
“They are definitely my role models and that’s why I wish to excel in both cross country running and the 1500m on the track – I want to be like Asbel,” the junior revelation added.
The senior Mwangangi was unchallenged in the men’s 12km although later in the series he should expect stiffer opposition as Kenya’s elite runners slowly shed off their cobwebs to launch the 2010 competition season when the series moves into the Rift Valley when the series moves into the Rift Valley later this month later this month.
“The course was not tough and it’s one that I’m used to running on,” he said.
Wangare’s work ethic came in handy in the senior women’s race as she called the shots from the front setting a blistering pace.
That hardly came as a surprise given her training regime and partners at Ngong on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, who largely comprise Kenya’s foremost marathoners Paul Tergat, Patrick Ivuti, Joshua Chelanga and her husband, Jacob Kipchumba Yator.
The next race in the series sponsored by the Kenya Commercial Bank will be in Kericho, in the south Rift Valley, on November 21.
Elias Makori for IAAF
Leading results -
Senior MEN (12 km) -
1. John Mwangangi 35:47
2. James Kiplimo 35:49
3. Geoffrey Gikoni 36:01
4. Fredrick Musyoki 36:12
5. Evans Kiprotich 36:22
6. Shadrack Kosgei 36:38
Senior WOMEN (8 km) -
1. Margaret Wangari 26:34
2. Veronica Nyaruai 26:57
3. Nahum Kipngetich 27:00
4. Agnes Katunge 27:14
5. Jane Mwikali 27:50
6. Monica Wangari 28:26
Junior MEN (8 km) -
1. Caleb Mwangangi 23:08
2. David Bett 23:12
3. Patrick Muaka 23:37
4. Peter Mwololo 23:40
5. Ishmael Bushedich 23:45
6. James Maina 23:50
Junior WOMEN (6 km) -
1. Jackline Chepngeno 19:54
2. Zeddy Chelagat 19:55
3. Nelly Chebet 20:02
4. Faith Chepngetich 20:08
5. Nahom Chemweno 20:21
6. Lucia Kamene 20:41
Training partners John Mwangangi and Caleb Mwangangi swept the senior men’s and junior men’s races in style as Margaret Wangare and Jackline Chepng’eno prevented what would have been a clean sweep by taking the senior and junior women’s titles at the Machakos High School on Saturday (7).
The conditions were totally different from last year’s when Nicholas Kamakya and Pauline Korikwiang battled with the elements to win on a muddy and slippery course.
Wangare clocked 26 minutes and 34 seconds to clinch the senior women’s race in a brave show of tactical running that keeps her dreams of making the Kenyan team to the World Cross Country Championships in Poland off to a great start.
Wangare said she was happy with her progression from the now defunct senior women’s four-kilometre race to the 8km.
“The course was the same as in 2004 when I ran the senior women’s race,” Wangari said.
“I now plan to run in at least three more races of the cross country series before I start my final preparations for the national trials.”
Caleb Mwangangi, silver medallist behind compatriot Gideon Mageka in the 1500m at the World Youth Championships in Bressanone was overjoyed when he won the junior race in 23:08.
“The conditions were great and thank God there was no rain,” he said. “I have been working on my endurance and I will keep polishing my speedwork and maintain running the 1500m on the track.”
Mwangangi said he was impressed by Olympic 1500m silver medallist Asbel Kiprop and Augustine Choge who have brilliantly mixed cross country running with the middle distance races on the track.
“They are definitely my role models and that’s why I wish to excel in both cross country running and the 1500m on the track – I want to be like Asbel,” the junior revelation added.
The senior Mwangangi was unchallenged in the men’s 12km although later in the series he should expect stiffer opposition as Kenya’s elite runners slowly shed off their cobwebs to launch the 2010 competition season when the series moves into the Rift Valley when the series moves into the Rift Valley later this month later this month.
“The course was not tough and it’s one that I’m used to running on,” he said.
Wangare’s work ethic came in handy in the senior women’s race as she called the shots from the front setting a blistering pace.
That hardly came as a surprise given her training regime and partners at Ngong on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, who largely comprise Kenya’s foremost marathoners Paul Tergat, Patrick Ivuti, Joshua Chelanga and her husband, Jacob Kipchumba Yator.
The next race in the series sponsored by the Kenya Commercial Bank will be in Kericho, in the south Rift Valley, on November 21.
Elias Makori for IAAF
Leading results -
Senior MEN (12 km) -
1. John Mwangangi 35:47
2. James Kiplimo 35:49
3. Geoffrey Gikoni 36:01
4. Fredrick Musyoki 36:12
5. Evans Kiprotich 36:22
6. Shadrack Kosgei 36:38
Senior WOMEN (8 km) -
1. Margaret Wangari 26:34
2. Veronica Nyaruai 26:57
3. Nahum Kipngetich 27:00
4. Agnes Katunge 27:14
5. Jane Mwikali 27:50
6. Monica Wangari 28:26
Junior MEN (8 km) -
1. Caleb Mwangangi 23:08
2. David Bett 23:12
3. Patrick Muaka 23:37
4. Peter Mwololo 23:40
5. Ishmael Bushedich 23:45
6. James Maina 23:50
Junior WOMEN (6 km) -
1. Jackline Chepngeno 19:54
2. Zeddy Chelagat 19:55
3. Nelly Chebet 20:02
4. Faith Chepngetich 20:08
5. Nahom Chemweno 20:21
6. Lucia Kamene 20:41
