Florence Kiplagat wins in Eldoret over 8km (© Peter Njenga)
Moses Mosop and World junior 5000 metres silver medallist Florence Kiplagat won the men's and womnen's senior events at the Kenyan trials for the 35th IAAF World Cross Country Championships which were full of upsets at the Ngong race course on a hot and humid afternoon (Sat 24 Feb).
World junior champion Florence Korkwang won the junior women's race and newcomer Mathew Kisorio took the men's junior contest.
Kipchoge among dozens to drop out - 10,000 spectators turn out
Three pre-race favourites - Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Musyoka and Veronica Nyaruai - were among dozens of athletes who bowed out with stomach stitches during the late afternoon meeting which attracted over 10,000 spectators. Mosop was a beneficiary of the former World 5000m champion Kipchoge who had just taken the lead with 1000m to go when he collapsed in pain. Mosop, who took bronze in the 10,000m at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, took the lead, closely chased by South Rift champion Hosea Macharinyang, Simon Arusei and Gideon Ngatuny.
Mosop proved the better runner and he stretched his lead by 20 metres. Ngatuny, second in the national championships, embarked on a concerted effort to bridge the gap. He overtook the two athletes ahead of him and caught up with Mosop with 100m to go. But Mosop regained the led and broke the tape in 38:40.
Ngatuny, a member the Beijing Ekiden winning team and first in the Nyanza South Provincial Championships stopped the clock in second in 39:43, while Matelong clocked 38:49 for third after overhauling Arusei towards the end who posted 38:54.
Comfortable victory for Kiplagat - women's senior race
Kiplagat remained behind Prisca Jepleting, Pamela Chepchumba and Fridah Domongole for the better part of the race after Musyoka, the Pune Half Marathon champion, bowed out mid-stage with stomach stitches. Musyoka was however later given a wild card team place by Athletics Kenya for next month's World Cross Country Championships.
In the final lap, Kiplagat left Jepleting, the Lisbon Half Marathon champion, Chepchumba and Domongole to contest second position, stopping the clock for victory in 29:40. Jepleting fought hard to beat off Chepchumba for second in 29:48. Chepchumba stayed clear of Domongole for third (29:55 to 29:57).
“If we run as a team we shall be able to win in Mombasa," Kiplagat said. "I think we should shall use some tactics especially in the middle of the race.”
Korkwang, Kisorio lead the younger generation - junior races
Korkwang had no match in the junior girls race after Nyaruai retired and took the lead after two kilometres to win with close to 100m to spare, which prompted the five-times World Cross Country champion Paul Tergat to say that competition in the junior categories was unimpressive.
Korkwang beat Mercy Kosgei by 45 seconds in 21:59, with Chebet Cheptai third in 22:14.
In the Junior men's race, Mathew Kisorio beat Nicholas Makau who had been really good in this season's AK weekend meetings, posting 26:02. Makau followed in 26:09 and Leonard Komon, second inthe World Cross Country Junior race in Fukuoka last year, was timed 26:14.
Peter Njenga (Daily Nation) for the IAAF
Kenyan team for the 35th IAAF World Cross Country Championships -
Senior men:
Moses Mosop
Gideon Ngatuny
Hosea Macharinyang
Bernard Kipyego
Simon Arusei
Bernard Kosgei
Mike Kipyego
Richard Matelong
Senior women:
Florence Kiplagat
Prisca Jepleting
Pamela Chepchumba
Fridah Domongole
Vivian Cheruiyot
Anne Cheptanui
Hellen Musyoki
Junior women:
Mathew Kisorio
Nicholas Makau
Leonard Komon
Bernard Kiplagat
Edwin Kipkorir
Junior women:
Pauline Korkwang
Mercy Kosgei
Chebet Cheptai
Linet Masai Jebichi yator
Kamene Muia
Mercy Cherono
Mary Wacera
Coaches: John Mwithiga, David Leting, Julius Kirwa
RESULTS -
Senior men 12km:
1. Moses Mosop, 38:40
2. Gideon Ngatuny, 38:43
3. Hosea Macharinyang, 38:49
4. Simon Arusei, 38:54
5. Barnabas Kosgei, 38:56
6. Edwin Soi, 39:00
Senior women 8km:
1. Florence Kiplagat, 29:40
2. Prisica Jepleting, 29:48
3. Pamela Chepchumba, 29:55
4. Fridah Domongole, 29:57
5. Vivian Cheruiyot, 30:10
6. Emily Chebet, 30:12
Junior men 8km:
1: Mathew Kisorio, 26:02
2: Nicholas Makau, 26:09
3: Leonard Komon, 26:14
4: Lewis Nyariki, 26:18
5: Paul Mutero, 26:21
6: Bernard Kiplagat, 26:22
Junior women 6km:
1: Pauline Korkwang, 21:59
2: Mercy Kosgei, 22:14
3: Chebet Cheptai, 22:24
4: Linet Masai, 22:27
5: Jebichi Yator, 22:28
6: Kamene Muia, 22:29
