Mukono graduates in style at Ngong

Africa Cross-country junior champion, Moses Mukono, graduated to seniors ranks in style on Saturday, easily winning senior men’s 12km race at the Nairobi Country Cross-country Championships at Ngong Posta grounds.

Little-known Lucy Wambui, also from Lang’ata, prevailed in women’s 8km race as Africa Junior Cross junior silver medallist Andrew Lorot and Eunice Cherono women men and women’s junior events.

Fresh from finishing third at Kenya Police Cross-country Championships the previous weekend, Mukono engaged Albert Rop and Hillary Maiyo in a three-way battle from midway in the race. 

The three exchanged leads before Mukono, who won the national junior cross title last year on his way to continental glory, broke loose with 1km to go to triumph in 32:45.6 minutes. Rop came second in 33:04.0, followed by Maiyo in 33:16.0.

“It feels good to graduate to the senor ranks with victory just in my second race this season,” said Mukono adding that he is yet to attain his best shape. “I just finished my secondary school education last year and I have just started training.”

Mukono, the 2013 Africa Junior 5,000m gold medallist, who represented Kenya at the 2013 World Cross-country Championships in Poland, said he is determined to win at the nationals and world championships.

The national Cross-country Championships are due February 14 at Uhuru Gardens followed by the World Cross-country Championships on March 28 in Guiyang, China.

“I believe in myself and I know where to refine before the nationals,” explained Mukono, who predicted a thriller at the nationals where he will lead the Nairobi team.

MAKE AMENDS

Wambui, who finished 23rd at last year’s nationals, is determined to make amends this year after clocking 25:51.4 to win the women’s race. Jane Murage and Jeridah Karugu wound second and third in 26:00.6 and 26:14.5 respectively.

Lorot, who won the Athletics Kenya National Cross Series in Nairobi and Machakos in December, was home and dry, taking the junior men’s 8km race in 21:30.8.

“I am focused on winning at the nationals and worlds in the next two years, God willing,” said Lorot, a Form Three student at Rirura Central. Cherono dominated women’s junior race, clocking 19:02.1 to prevail against Celephine Cheptek (19:15.5 and Valentine Chemaringo (19:19.5).

In Kisii,  Joseph Chacha and Damaris Arena reigned supreme to win senior men and women’s races at Kisii Golf Course. Chacha timed 36:00.0, beating Robert Saweyo (36:56.34)and Fredrick Morang’a (36:57.20).

Arena took 29:04.6 minutes to win women’s race, beating Mercy Ondiek 29:10.4 and Damaris Nyanduko 30:36.0. Amos Lemiso won junior men’s 8km race in 24:56.7 while Divinah Oganga took junior women’s honours in 22:28.5.