Upsets mark end to KDF's Athletics Championships

Kenya Defence Forces' Vedic Cheruiyot of Mtongwe celebrates winning the men's 5000m final during the Kenya Defence Force Athletics Championships on June 8, 2018 at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Selah Jepleting, the 2015 World Military Games 1,500m champion and 2015 World Relays Medley silver medallist, came in third in 4:30.4.
  • Kiyeng had also settled for silver in women’s 800m, losing the battle to Jarinter Mawia (Mtongwe) after she clocked 2:04.1.

African Games 400m silver medallist Boniface Mweresa and 2014 World Under-20 5,000m runners up Vedic Cheruiyot stunned pre-race favourites to win their respective races in an upset-laden end to the Kenya Defence Forces Athletics Championships on Friday.

Mweresa of Laikipia Air Base (Lab) lit up the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, when he clocked 20.8 seconds, stunning defending champion Moi Air Base’s (Mab) Mike Mokamba to win the men’s 200m.

Mokamba, who is also the national 200m and 100m national record holder, timed 21.0 for second as the national 400m champion Alphas Kishoyian (Mab) settled third in 21.2.

Charles Wamwea (Thika) clocked 21.5 for fourth place. Kishoyian went on to retain his 400m title in 45.8 while Wamwea was crowned the new 100m champion in the absence of defending champion Mokamba in 10.3.

“It has been a good championship for me, winning my first 200m title. It gives me a good leverage ahead of the National Championships,” said Mweresa.

Cheruiyot, who is also the 2013 World Under-18 3,000m silver medallist, hit the front at the bell and never looked back, holding off defending champion Cyrus Rutto (Garissa) to win men’s 5,000m in 13:46.4.

A charging Rutto, who represented Kenya at 2017 World Championships, almost overtook Cheruiyot with almost 30 metres to go but went out of the gas to settle second in 13:47.2 and relinquish his title.

“I had trained well in Iten for this race and I am glad to win my first title here,” said Cheruiyot, who is coached by legendry tactician Colm O’Connell. “I am ready for the nationals and I hope to prevail.”

The National Championships due June 21-23 at Kasarani will be used to select the national team for the Africa Championships planned for August 10-15 in Assaba, Nigeria.

Kishoyian, who has moved to 800m, glided to his third consecutive victory in 400m in 45.8, beating Mweresa to second place in 46.2 as Saidi Tutu (Thika) came in third in 46.5.

Sabina Mukoswa claimed a hat-trick, winning women’s 100m, 200m and 400m. Mukoswa timed 12.0 for victory in 100m to see off Mary Tanui (Thika) 12.2 and Tecla Cherotich (Thika) 12.5 respectively.

Mukoswa went for the 200m title in 24.7, edging out Queentor Kisembe (Lab) and Catherine Nandi (Lanet) 25.2 respectively before going for the 400m crown in 55.5.

The 2006 World Under-20 5,000m silver medallist Pauline Korikwiang claimed her maiden women’s 10,000m title as Winnie Chebet and Nicholas Kiplagat retained the women and men’s 1,500m and 800m titles respectively.

Korikwiang (Mab), who is also the two times World Military Games champion, timed 32:06.0 to triumph, beating World Half Marathon record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei (Garissa) to second place in 32:17.0. Gladys Koech (Mtongwe) came in third in 32:52.8.

Chebet, who reached the semi-finals of the 1,500m during the World Championships in London last year, cruised to her second consecutive victory in 4:28.1, beating her World Championships teammate Judith Kiyeng to second in 4:29.0.

Selah Jepleting, the 2015 World Military Games 1,500m champion and 2015 World Relays Medley silver medallist, came in third in 4:30.4.

Kiyeng had also settled for silver in women’s 800m, losing the battle to Jarinter Mawia (Mtongwe) after she clocked 2:04.1.