Kenyans dominated the Eastern African Region Half-Marathon Championships held in Nairobi on Saturday (04), with Jacob Yator emerging the winner.
Yator, who won the Malaga Half-Marathon in Spain last year, burst from the group in the last kilometre to win the race in 1:03:56, with Ethiopian Gudisa Shentama second in 1:04:08. Kenya's Fred Mogaka was third 1:04:32.
The 2004 Singapore Marathon champion, Hellen Cherono was in supreme form, as she won the women's title in 1:15:07, ahead of Ethiopia's Teigist Abedi, who finished 20 seconds later. Abedi's compatriot, Adanech Zekiros, was third in 1:15:45.
The regional half-marathon race was a dress rehearsal for Kenya's Commonwealth Games trials which were held at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, on Saturday. Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia took part.
Leading results:
(Kenyan unless indicated otherwise)
MEN:
1. Jacob Yator 1:03:56
2. Gudisa Shentama (ETH) 1:04:08
3. Fred Mogaka 1:04:32
4. Tesfaye Dirba (ETH) 1:05:44
5. Stephen Ndungu 1:06:23
6. Benson Matheka 1:06:53
7. Julius Kimutai 1:09:54
8. Naseir Bilal Elhag (SUD) 1:10:08
9. Yasir Ahmed Hassan (SUD) 1:10:37
10. Abdalla Ibrahim (SUD) 1:14:51
WOMEN:
1. Hellen Cherono 1:15:07
2. Teigist Abedi (ETH) 1:15:27
3. Adanech Zekiros (ETH) 1:15:45
4. Rose Kerubo Nyangacha 1:17:11
5. Beatrice Omwansa 1:18:17
6. Cecilia Wangari 1:21:29
7. Chematia Chamaringo 1:22:40
Omulo Okoth for the IAAF
