Mwangila, Wangui crowned Nyandarua X-Country champs

Fredrick Mwangila and Mary Wangui are the new senior men and women Nyandarua County Cross Country champions after winning their respective races at the weekend.

Mwangila, who trains in Nyahururu, took charge of the race soon after crossing the 4km mark and he later explained that his strategy was to run a relaxed pace.

He won the 10km race in 30:31.02.

Urged on by his training mate, the World Under-18 silver medallist, Stanley Waithaka, Mwangila’s fast pace saw runners form one line in the third kilometre.

By midway, it was only Samson Ndirangu who was able to hang on to Mwangila. Ndirangu paid a price for his effort as he lost energy in the last one kilometre finishing eighth in 31:54.4.

“I pray that this will be my year of wearing national colours by making the team to World Cross country,” said the 22 -year-old runner.

His coach, Francis Kamau said Mwangila will soon be joining Waithaka in Japan, where it is hoped the hugely talented runner will hone his running.

Nicholas Kiplimo (31:03.6), Edwin Mokua (31:11.03), Michael Kamau (31:17.7), Razini Lemetekei (31:20.8) and Moses Mwathi (31:30.2 ) finished in that order for position two to six to make the team that will represent the county in the Central Region championships set for Maragwa, Murang’a County in two weeks.

Wangui, running for Kipipiri sub county, won the senior women 10km in 34:9.5 a head of Esther Wangui Waweru (36:12.8), marathoner Miriam Wangare (36:29.5), Esther Wanjiru (36:42.2), Susan Wahome (36:46.0) and former Africa junior 3000m gold medallist Zipporah Wanjiru finished sixth in 36:48.1 to be in the County team.

“I am making a comeback after being out of athletics for about two years. I just decided to take time off from the sport,” Wanjiru, who won bronze in the junior category at the 2011 Africa Cross Country championships in Cape Town, South Africa said.

In the Under-20 8km race, Edwin Kipkemoi (24:11.3), Harrison Ndirangu (24:18.5), Joseph Mwangi (24:21.1), John Mugeni (24:26.5), Simon Saidimu (24:30.9) and Athony Maina (24:34.8) finished in that order for top six to also make the team.

The Under-18 girls’ 6km race was won by fast rising new comer Rebecca Njeri in 20:38.1. Behind her were Margaret Akidor in 20:59.9 and Esther Wambui secured third place after timing 21:32.0