Japheth Korir, Winfred Moseti light up AK Series in Kilgoris

The 2013 World Cross Country champion Japheth Korir bounced back with an emphatic victory in the men’s 10km race during the second round of the Athletics Kenya Cross Country Series at Poroko Primary School, Kilgoris on Saturday.

Winfred Moseti, who won Kisii 10km and Madoka Half Marathon last year, claimed senior women’s 10km race to state her case ahead of the 2017 World Cross Country Championships trials in February next year.

Korir is yet to find his footing since winning the men’s 12km title at the 2013 World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland owing to injuries.

Korir was given a wild card to Team Kenya to try defend his title at the 2015 World Cross in Beijing but failed to hit form in training forcing the technical bench to leave him out.

However, the 23-year-old dominated in the race staged at Poroko Primary School, winning in 30 minutes and 11.48 seconds. Korir beat another returnee Moses Mukono from Rongai to second place in 30:18.05.

“I have been nursing a nagging hip injury since October last year but it has since healed and I am ready to roll out again,” said Korir, who has pitched his camp in Kericho under Coach Japheth Kemei.

“This is my third race in two months and my body feels great… I just want to reclaim my title in Kampala before turning to track,” said Korir, who is targeting 10,000m on track with a view of making the team for the 2017 London World Championships.

Mukono, who has been out of action for almost two years, and finished fifth in the first round in Nairobi last week, edged out Geoffrey Koech to third in 30:27.72.

The 2017 World Cross Country Championships are due March 26 in Kampala, Uganda.

Moseti also dominated, clocking 36:40.2 to reign supreme in women’s race, beating Caroline Chepkemoi and Joyce Chepkirui in 36:58.0 and 37:14.0 respectively.

“It’s a high time I scale the ladder to better things after winning locally for many years,” said Moseti.

“My dream is to now represent Kenya for the first time and I hope to perform well at the nationals and get a place in the Worlds team.”

World Under-20 5,000m silver medallist, Emmaculate Chepkirui edged out Africa Cross Country junior champion Mirriam Cherop to win junior women’s 6km race.

Chepkirui clocked 20:41.22 to prevail as Cherop settled second in 20:45.02 while Betty Chepkemoi finished third in 20:46.43.

Chepkemoi represented Kenya at the 2016 World Under-20 Championships in Poland where she finished fourth in 3,000m steeplechase.

Vincent Kipkorir easily won junior men’s 8km race in 23:45.40, beating Duncan Kiprotich and Edwin Koskey in 24:04.04 and 24:05.15 respectively.