Asbel Kiprop in the 3000m at the 14th edition of the Mauritius International Meet (© Clyde KOA WING)
World Junior Cross Country champion Asbel Kiprop, who is eyeing a medal in the All Africa Games in Algiers this summer, notched up another deserved victory at the 1500m in final meeting of the Athletics Kenya series of weekend events for 2007 which was held at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru, on Saturday (12).
Kiprop, the winner of the qualifier on Friday (11), led from gun to tape to post a time of 3:42.8. Second placed Kibet Barngetuny clocked 3:48.1, with a distant third place taken by Elisha Cheruiyot (3:48.8). Kiprop's time was an improvement on his qualifying time of 3:45.3.
In the hotly contested 5000m final, little known John Thuo who was ninth in the final national cross country trials took the lead from mid stage of the race to win in 13:55.0. Thuo is based at the IAAF High Performance centre in Eldoret, and his performance is the fastest time in Kenya this year. Stanley Muriruri in second clocked 14:02.6.
Florence Wasike was the most promising female runner as she won the 200/400m in 25.6 and 55.9 respectively. Kenya has started a sprinting programme with the ultimate aim of fielding sprinters in international competition especially the 4x400m in which Kenya won a men’s gold medal in the 1972 Olympic Games.
After six weekend meetings, the next serious athletics competitions leading up to the Osaka World Championships will start on Friday (18) with the Armed Forces Championships in Nairobi.
Peter Njenga (Daily Nation) for the IAAF
Selected results
MEN
1500m
1: Asbek Kiprop, 3:42.8
2: Kibet Barngetuny, 3:48.1
3: Elisha Cheruiyot, 3:48.8
5000m
1: John Thuo, 13:55.0
2: Stanley Muriruri, 14:02.5
3: Weldon Chepkwony, 14:14.2
10,000m
1: Titus Kibii, 29:01.2
2: Edward Muge, 29:31.02
3: David Langat, 29:31.7
3000 Steeplechase
1: Nixon Komen, 9:18.1
2: Eliud Mathu, 9:25.6
3: Amos Bangoi, 9:27.0
WOMEN
400m
1: Florence Wasike, 55.9
2: Biarose Chepkoech, 57.8
3: Caroline Awour, 58.3
1500m
1: Margaret Wangare, 4:25.5
2: Florence Jepkemboi, 4:27.5
3: Faith Jeruto, 4:29.3
10,000m
1: Agnes Jebet, 35:46.2
2: Caroline Chepkorir, 36:42.4
3: Judy Kimuge, 37:12.0
3000m Steeplechase
1: Ruth Waithera, 11:03.8
2: Clara Chepkorir, 11:12.0
3: Diana Chepkemoi, 11:15.3