Nyaruai returns with big win over Cherono
What you need to know:
- Nyaruia, the 2012 Africa 5,000m silver medallist, finished in 16 minutes 28.5 seconds. Cherono clocked 16:30.5 to settle for second place as Gladys Chemweno (Thika) came home third in 16:40.0.
- It was sweet revenge for Nyaruai, the 2006 World Junior 3,000m champion, who is making a comeback from maternity leave. Cherono beat Nyaruai to gold in 5,000m during the 2012 Africa Championships in Port Novo, Benin.
- All eyes were on Cherono, who also won the 10,000m title at the 2012 Africa event before claiming silver over the same distance at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow.
Veronica Nyaruai stunned defending champion Gladys Cherono to win the Kenya Defence Forces Athletics Championship women’s 5,000m title on Wednesday at Safaricom Kasarani Stadium.
Nyaruia, the 2012 Africa 5,000m silver medallist, finished in 16 minutes 28.5 seconds. Cherono clocked 16:30.5 to settle for second place as Gladys Chemweno (Thika) came home third in 16:40.0.
In men’s 10,000m, newcomer Emmanuel Kipsang broke away from the field with 10 laps to go to win in 28 minutes and 16.5 seconds.
It was sweet revenge for Nyaruai, the 2006 World Junior 3,000m champion, who is making a comeback from maternity leave. Cherono beat Nyaruai to gold in 5,000m during the 2012 Africa Championships in Port Novo, Benin.
That was the last time Nyaruai, 26, represented Kenya as she was to later take a maternity break before giving birth to her second child.
All eyes were on Cherono, who also won the 10,000m title at the 2012 Africa event before claiming silver over the same distance at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow.
This was after she won Istanbul Half Marathon (66.38) in April before claiming Ottawa 10km Road Race in a personal best 30:56 on May 23.
However, after some thrilling exchange of leads, it’s Nyaruai, the 2007 Mombasa World Cross Country junior bronze medallist, who hit the front at great pace with 200m to go as she looked over her shoulder for Cherono.
Interestingly, Cherono, the 2014 World Half Marathon, failed to react, leaving Nyaruai the two times World Cross junior silver medallist to stroll to victory.
“I thought Cherono would react to my kick in the last 200m but she failed to react. I knew it was all me from then on,” said Nyaruari, who is representing Laikipia Air Base (LAB).
“It feels great to be back…my body feels relaxed after giving birth to my second child.” Nyaruai, who wants to focus on getting the World Championships qualifying times, will once again seek to wrest the 10,000m title from Cherono (Kahawa) when they face-off again in 10,000m final on Friday.
Mtongwe’s Kipsang took command of the men’s 25-lap race to win easily, beating Stephen Arita of Nairobi.
