Kipketer and Cheyech champs

• Pair floor rivals as North Rift pick team for national championships

Veteran James Kipketer won the senior men’s title at the North Rift provincial cross country championships in Marakwet West on Saturday with Philomena Cheyech prevailing in the women’s race.

Kipketer, who just failed to make Kenya’s team to the 2001 World Cross Country Championships, broke away from the pack at the six-kilometre mark to stop the timer at 33 minutes and 23.7 seconds, winning ahead of Peter Kamais (33:33.8) and Yusuf Biwott (33:37.1).

Kipketer, second behind six-time world cross-country champion Kenenisa Bekele at the 2001 IAAF Cross Country Permit Meeting in Brussels, longs to make the Kenyan team to next month’s global championships in Poland for another clash with the Ethiopian legend.

“I was prepared for the victory. My training is picking up well and I only struggle to ensure that I battle him (Bekele) in Poland. He beat me by three seconds in Brussels, and I am ready to meet him again. But I must work hard to counter the strong runners at the national championships,” said Kipketer, now 32, after the race at the Chebororwa Farmers Training Centre.

Japan-based Cheyech obliterated a strong women’s eight-kilometre field, which included Berlin World Championships marathon runner Rispa Kimaiyo, to win the women’s 8km race in 25:10.1.

Caroline Chepkwony of Marakwet and Margaret Atodonyang’ of Pokot Central were second (25:28.9) and third (25:36.2) respectively.

“I am grateful for the victory. I now need to concentrate on speed work as most senior runners like Linet Masai (world 8km silver medalist) have strong finishing kicks,” said Cheyech, 27.

World Youth 3,000m champion Purity Cherotich, won the junior women’s 6km race in 18:20 while little-known Hillary Kemboi won the junior men’s 8km title in 22:08.8, beating Josphat Kiprop (22:09.2) of Baringo Central and Keiyo’s Eric Ndiema (22:09.5).