Linet, Komon beat champions in Europe race

Linet Masai, the World 10,000 metres champion, flew home on Thursday after a busy programme in Europe and affirmed she wants to win gold during the World Cross-country Championship in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in March.

Masai, the unlucky candidate in Amman, Jordan, where she was edged out by compatriot Florence Kiplagat at the tape, has ruled the roost in the two races she was entered in Seville and Soria in Spain. “I am tired and heading home now. But I will be back in Nairobi on Saturday,” she said.

With the conclusion of the seven-leg AK/KCB weekend meeting, focus will turn to the institutional championships, with the Kenya Police and Armed Forces races on Saturday.

Clearest message yet

On Sunday, Masai and Leonard Komon both won the 28th Cross Internacional de Italica – the fifth leg of this season’s IAAF Cross-country Permit series – in Seville. It was the clearest message yet that Masai was sending out to her rivals as she remains unbeaten this season, having won races in Spain and Italy.

As for Komon, his prospects of returning to the medal podium in Bydgozyszc were evident as he trounced world champion Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam of Ethiopia, the man who edged him to fourth place in Amman last year.

Komon, who turned 22 a week ago, gave Kenya its first victory in Seville since Abraham Chebii’s 2002 success while Masai kept the gold, won last year by Florence Kiplagat, in Kenya.

Masai was ahead of her closest rival by 29 seconds, winning in 25 minutes 54 seconds. Pauline Korikwiang was second in 26:23, Ann Karandi Mwangi third in 26:35 and Hilda Kibet of the Netherlands fourth in 26:44.

“It was my first appearance in Seville and I was happy to win. I’ll compete at the Police championships on Saturday and I’ll also be at the Kenyan trials on February 20 prior to the World Cross-country championships in Bydgoszcz,” said Masai.

“After my silver in Amman last year, I’m only thinking about winning but I don’t know how my rivals’ build-up is going; so we’ll have to wait and see what happens.” Masai is expected to come face to face with her local rival Florence Kiplagat, who is yet to launch her season.

Boasts top runners

The Police championship boasts a host of top Kenyan long distance runners, including Masai, Kiplagat, Grace Momanyi, Silvia Kibet, Milka Chemos and Margaret Wangare.

Athletics Kenya unceremoniously withdrew Masai from her dream debut on the road race circuit a fortnight ago in Abu Dhabi where she was due to compete at the Zayed Half Marathon.

AK secretary-general David Okeyo said it was premature for the 20-year-old to move to the road. “We want her to run for long, and moving to road races would end her career prematurely,” said Okeyo.