Kimitei, Nzisa star at Prisons meeting

Wilfred Kimitei and Nancy Nzisa braved a wet track to win their respectively races as Kenya Prison Services Athletics Championships got underway on Friday at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Kimitei, this year’s First Lady Half Marathon winner, dominated to easily win men’s 10,000m race in 29 minutes and 26.2 seconds, beating seasoned long distance runner Peter Emase to second in 29:29.8 as Fredrick Moranga came third in 29:32.3.

“It feels great to win but my focus is on performing well and get the ticket to the Rio Olympics in 10,000m,” said the 30-year-old Kimitei, who won the 10km race at the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon last year.

Nzisa, who has represented Kenya in the last two Africa Cross Country editions in Uganda and Cameroon, was in a class of her own, gliding to victory in the women’s 5,000m in 16:02.5. Catherine Syokau finished second in 16:13.0 as Valentine Kibii settled for bronze in 16:27.1.

Javelin national record-holder veteran Cecilia Kiplagat retained her discuss title, ploughing 38.25m, beating Mary Cherotich and Everline Bosibori with throws of 37.83 and 36.04 respectively.

NGURE WINS

Gladys Ngure stunned former national champion Florence Wasike to win the women’s 100m hurdles final. Ngure clocked 15.5 seconds, beating Wasike, who holds the championship record of 14.7, to second place in 15.7. Hynes Chepkemoi clocked 15.9 to finish third.

National 400m champion Maureen Jelagat posted the fastest times in both 400m and 400m hurdles to reach the final.

Jelagat timed 53.7 to in her heat, beating Damaris Imbongo and Mercy Adisa in 56.5 and 56.7 to all qualify in the 400m. Also easing through is Peris Chege, who won her heat in 55.9, edging out Saida Cheptoo 60.4.

Jelagat, who represented Kenya at the World Championships last year in 400m, won her 400m hurdles heat in 60.0 to brush aside Sharon Chepkorir with the second best qualifying time of 65.3.

Wasike, who holds the championship record of 57.5, claimed her heat in 65.5, beating Ngure this time around in 66.0.

Ferdinand Omanyala clocked the fastest qualifying time of 10.3 to win his 100m semi-final, beating Dan Kiviasi and Boaz Araka in 10.5 and 10.7 as they all did enough to reach the final.

Steven Baraza clocked 10.4 to win his 100m semi-final as Michael Ngugi and Boniface Chitayi came in next in 10.6 and 10.8 to also sail through to the final.