Four times in a row for Chepkurui

Commonwealth Games 3,000 metres steeplechase silver medallist Mercy Njoroge and Lineth Chepkurui easily won their respective races on the first day of the Kenya Defence Forces Athletics Championship at the Nyayo National Stadium Thursday.

With elite athletes having remained in their camps in Europe and USA, the forces championship lacked its usual spark as the fringe athletes dominated the races.

Njoroge, who shelved plans to run in tomorrow’s Diamond League race in New York, emerged from the shadows of Agnes Chesang and Beatrice Chepngeno to win in a national leading time of 10 minutes 8.5 seconds.

Having finishing second to policewoman Milcah Chemos in the Doha Diamond League meeting, Njoroge had already qualified for the World Athletics Championships scheduled for August in Daegu, South Korea.

The qualifying time is 9:43.00.

Chepng’eno, running for Nanyuki, was second in 10:23.5 while Chesang took third place in 10:26.2.

Running cautiously as she is still carrying an ankle injury, Chepkurui could only post 16:22.0 in winning the 5,000m race after fighting off a late surge from Boston Marathon bronze medallist Sharon Cherop.

“I am not fully fit. I still have some pain in my ankle. But I could not just show it to my bosses and that is why I decided to compete here and I’m happy to have won,” said Chepkurui, said after the 12-lap race.

Cherop, who was named in the Kenya team for the World Marathon Championship, said she was only testing her speed ahead of the trip to Korea.

“I am here to test my speed. I will be running in the marathon and it is good to see that you can gain some sprinting skills. Now I return to focus on my marathon preparations,” she said.

Cherop clocked 16:22.4 to win, ahead of Doris Chengeiwo (16:26.7), Peninah Arusei (16:37.4), Gladys Chepng’eno (16:44.1) and veteran Sally Barsosio (17:07.8).

Mike Kioni (Thika) stole the show in the men’s 10,000m to stop the clock at 28.45.1 after opening up a 100-metre gap on his closest rival. Kiplimo Kimutai of Navy (28.46.2) and William Chebon (28:47.8) followed.

Organisers had expected former World Cross Country champion Joseph Ebuya, Vincent Chepkok and Mark Kiptoo to run but the three were away in Oslo, Norway, for last night’s Diamond League.

Finals tomorrow

David Limo, competing for Thika Engeneers Brigade, won the men’s discus final after throwing 48.97 metres. Richard Metet (46.08m) and Willy Kesio (44.97m) of Laikipia Air Base followed.

The women’s pole vault was won by Nanyuki’s Caroline Cherotich (3.05m), beating Ann Vaati (2.55m) of Embakasi and Pricilah Nasimiyu (2.50m).

The competition continues today, with the finals scheduled to take place tomorrow.