Kabuu ready for London race
The 2006 Commonwealth Games double medallist, Lucy Kabuu, on Saturday stepped up preparation ahead of next month’s London Marathon with a 5000 metres victory at the second NBK/AK weekend meeting at the Thika Municipal Stadium.
But Prison’s Ibrahim Muya displayed another good performance, winning the men’s 100m race in 10.4 seconds that not only put Thomas Musinde’s national record of 10.26 on notice but also the London Olympic Games qualifying mark of 10.18 and 10.24 for Standard ‘A’ and ‘B’ respectively.
After an explosive three-some exchange of leads going into the last three laps, Gladys Cherono (Kahawa) took the lead from Kabuu (Police), who won the 5000m bronze and 10,000m title at the Melbourne “Club” Games with 80m to go.
Competing in her first race since finishing second on her marathon debut in Dubai last January with personal best of 2 hours 19 minutes and 34 seconds, Kabuu treated her home fans to a pulsating chase before easing past Cherono with 30 metres left to triumph in 15 minutes and 40.0 seconds.
Strong case
Cherono, fresh from finishing third at last month’s Ras Al-Khaimah Half Marathon in the United Arab Emirates with a personal best 1:09:06, came second in 14:40.2, with Joyce Wanjiku, who led at one time, third in 15:43.0.
“This is my first race since my marathon debut in Dubai. I was looking for speed in this event and I am happy my body is responding well,” said Kabuu, who boasts 14:33.49 personal best in 5000m set in Oslo, Norway, in 2008.
She hinted that she would not compete in any race before the London Marathon on April 22.
“I want Kabuu to reserve her energy for the London Marathon in Nyahururu and Iten,” said coach, William Ng’ang’a of the athlete who still hopes to make Kenya’s Olympics marathon team and whose victory at the London Marathon should make a strong case.
National champion, Muya braved two false starts when he swang off the blocks well, gaining good power at the 30 metre mark before winning in a time that equalled his personal best of 10.4 (electronic time) he set when he won the national title last year.
Musinde withdrew from the final with injury at the semis, leaving Muya to win followed by Bonface Kakai (Moi Airbase) in 10.6.
