Unknown Chebseba stuns world junior champ in Eldoret

• Over 200 runners vie for place on the Rift Valley team to the national championships

Upstart Nickson Chepseba of Keiyo upstaged James Magut, the World Junior 1500 metres Silver medalist in Poland, to win the 1500 metres race at the Rift Valley Secondary Schools Championships in Eldoret on Saturday.

About 200 athletes from all the 43 districts of the Rift Valley Province braved the scorching heat at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in the chase for places in the team for national secondary schools championships scheduled next week at the same venue.

Chepseba, who is a form four Student at St Patrick’s High School Iten, blasted from the pack in the last lap to stop the clock at three minutes, 43.2 seconds.

The 19 year-old Chepseba employed an electric pace to shake off pre-race favourites James Magut and Willy Serem in a devastating sprint to victory in the four-lap race.

Magut, who posted an impressive 3:39.05 at the Super Grand Prix in Doha two weeks ago, came second in a time of 3:46.3 ahead of Willy Serem of Nandi North who timed at 3:49.9.

Accept defeat

“The race was not that hard. I accept the defeat by Chepseba in the last hundred metres to the tape since I’m still tired after journey from Italy. But I need to struggle harder to secure a slot in the team to World Juniors in Seychelles,” said Magut.

He trains together with Olympic 800m bronze medalist Alfred Yego Kirwa and Olympic silver medalist Asbel Kiprop in Eldoret.

But Chepseba was confident of victory.

“The race was quite good. I’m know focused on Africa Junior Championships as nothing will stop me from making the team to Seychelles,” said Chepseba, who trains under Bro Colm O’ Connell in Iten.

He trains together with Commonwealth Games 5000 metres champion Augustine Choge, World Cross Country senior runner Mangata Ndiwa and 800m Africa Champion David Rudisha.

Upcoming 10,000 metres runner Philemon Rono of Marakwet District thrilled fans when he outpaced Edinburgh World Cross Country junior runner Peter Kimeli Kisorio to win the 10m000 metres specialty for the second time in a row.

Rono produced a stunning burst of speed in the 10th lap blowing away the field that included another pre race favourite Eliud Tanui of Nandi East, to win in atime of 29:19.4.

“The race was an uphill task for me given the absence of my brother. We could join hands and outdo him (Rono),” said Kimeli.
Kimeli’s brother Mathew Kisorio in Italy for individual IAAF permit meetings in Italy.