World
Champion Kosgei wins as meeting is washed out
Peter Njenga for the IAAF
6 May, 2002, Kisumu - Kenya's World 3,000 metres steeplechase champion
Reuben Kosgei took a gamble and easily beat the opposition in the 10,000m final
of the 3rd KAAA weekend meeting at the port town of Kisumu on the shores of Lake
Victoria on Friday 3 May.
However, the rest of the meeting was cancelled the following day after the pitch became water-logged following an overnight downpour.
Kosgei clocked 29 minutes 9.6 seconds after struggling through a wet and muddy track. Valentine Orare, the national secondary schools champion over the distance two years ago and second in this year's Kyoto Half Marathon failed to match Kosgei and finished a distant second in 29:22.0. George Sirma clocked 29:29.4 in third place.
Kosgei said he might be running the longer distance in forthcoming local events as he builds up his endurance and speed in his preparations for the national trials for the Manchester Commonwealth Games next month.
This was the only final held on Friday before the skies opened. They had hoped for better times as Kisumu is at a lower altitude of 1500 metres compared to other parts of the country where athletics is popular, where there is an average height of 2000 metres plus.
Kenya traditionally use this series to prepare its athletes for major competition. The next two meetings in the coastal town of Mombasa and home of Kenya distance running, Eldoret might be shifted to Nairobi where two tartan tracks are available, said KAAA secretary David Okeyo.
10,000 metres: 1. Reuben Kosgei, 29: 09.6; 2. Valentine Orare, 29:22.0; 3. George Sirma, 29:29.4; 4. Johana Kemboi, 29:31.1; 5. David Kiptanui, 29:59.1; 6. David Misoi, 3:24.6.
