Waithaka, Cherop win junior titles

World Under 18 3,000m bronze medallist Stanley Waithaka from Central is the new Lotto/Athletics Kenya National Cross Country Championships junior men's 8km champion.

Africa Cross Country women's junior champion Miriam Cherop proved her mettle to win her category during the championships.

A tactical Waithaka stayed in the pack of at least five athletes for the better part of the last four kilometres before breaking with 1kilometre to go to triumph in 22 minutes and 29.2 seconds.

Waithaka, who finished 20th last year to miss out on the World Cross Country Championships in Uganda, had his act in place this time around to win and claim the ticket to the Africa Cross Country championships due March 17 in Chief, Algeria.

"I had not prepared well last year since I was preparing for my form four examinations," said Waitgala, who cleared school at Raicheri Secondary School in Ndaragua last year. "That is why I also settled for bronze at the World youth event in Nairobi."

Waithaka said he is now focused on winning gold in Algeria on his second appearance for Kenya. "I will then turn my focus on trying to secure a place in 3,000m team for the World Under-20 Championships in Tampered, Finland.

Talking about the race, Waithaka said the course was tricky. "We stayed together for a long time and I had to use my tactics well. I'm knew I had a good kick and I used it to the maximum," said Waithaka, who beat Ronex Kipruto (Central Rift) and Nicholas Kipkorir (Central Rift) to second and third places in 22:30.3 and 22:38.9 respectively.

Others sealing their places in Team Kenya for the Africa Cross Country championships are Peter Lagat (Western) 22:39.8 and World Under-18 3,000m silver medallist Edward Zakayo(North Rift) 22:47.5, who finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Edwin Kiplagat, who settled fifth in 22:50.6 claimed the sixth and last slot in the team.

TOOK CONTROL

Cherop took control of the 6km race just after 2km and never looked back to  win in 19 minutes and 03.7 seconds and book her ticket for the Africa Cross Country Championships due March 17 in Chlef, Algeria.

Cherop, who hails from South Rift edged out Roselida Jepketer from Central Rift to second place in 19:06.9 as 2017 World Under-18 3,000m representative Beatrice Chebet from South Rift settled third in 19:12.9.

Agnes Chebet Chest of Central Rift came in fourth in 19:14.4 followed by Hellen Ekalale (Central) 19:23.1 and World Under-18 1,500m bronze medallist Edina Jebitok (South Rift) 19:31.0 to all seal their places in the Africa Cross Country team.

"The contest was easy. I expected still challenge from Jebitok because she has good strides and striking but I knew victory was mine when she failed to respond when I surged after 2km," said Cherop, who now turns her focus her title defence in Algeria.

After Algeria, Cherop hopes to qualify for the World Under-20 Championships due July in Tampere  Finland.