Ndiwa stuns favourites to claim maiden national title
Stacy Ndiwa on course to winning the Lotto/Athletics Kenya National Cross Country Championships senior women's 10km race at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi on February 9, 2018. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- Ndiwa, who returned from a maternity break to win her second National Police Service Cross Country Championships three weeks ago, had to dig deep before crushing the rich field to triumph in 32 minutes and 15.6 seconds.
Stacy Ndiwa made a strong return from a two-year break to win her maiden senior women's 10km race title during the Lotto/ Athletics Kenya National Cross Country Championships at Uhuru Gardens on Saturday.
Ndiwa, who returned from a maternity break to win her second National Police Service Cross Country Championships three weeks ago, had to dig deep before crushing the rich field to triumph in 32 minutes and 15.6 seconds.
From left: Margaret Chelimo, Stacy Ndiwa, Perin Nenkampi, Sandra Chebet and Cellphine Chespol battle in the senior women's 10km during the Lotto/Athletics Kenya National Cross Country Championships at Uhuru Gardens Nairobi on February 10, 2018. Ndiwa won the race. PHOTO | AYUMBA AYODI |
Stacy Ndiwa addressing the press after winning the Lotto/Athletics Kenya National Cross Country Championships senior women's 10km race at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi on February 9, 2018. PHOTO | AYUMBA AYODI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The race curved into a five-horse battle after 4km with Ndiwa, Sandra Chebet (South Rift), Cellphine Chespol (Prisons), Perin Nenkampi (Kenya Defence Forces) and Margaret Chelimo (Police) all exchanging leads.
However, Ndiwa and Chebet broke and thrilled the crowd as they stayed neck-to-neck.
Ndiwa, who last represented Kenya at the 2015 World Cross Country Championships where she finished sixth, stepped on her has pedal, leaving Chebet Chebet in her wake to claim her maiden national title and earn a ticket to the Africa Cross Country Championships due March 17 in Chlef, Algeria.
APROT STRUGGLES
Chebet, who was competing for the first time in the nationals as a senior, having finished eighth at the 2017 World Cross Country Championships in Kampala, settled second in 32:17.7 followed by the World Cross Country junior women's bronze medallist Cellphine Chespol in 32:24.3.
African Games 5000m champion Margaret Chelimo came in fourth in 32:30.3 followed by Nenkampi and Rosemary Wanjiru (Nairobi) in 32:43.6 and 32:51.4 respectively.
The battle proved tough for Africa Cross Country champion Alice Aprot who finished eighth.
"I knew it was going to be tough but I am glad and happy to win my first national title," said Ndiwa.
