In the Kenya Secondary Schools championships which started here on Friday, standards were markedly better than Athletics Kenya weekend meetings as seasoned athletes dominated as expected.
A 23-year-old girls long jump record was the highlight of the two-day meeting at the Moi International Sports Centre. Mary Njeri of Kagondo Secondary School, Central, leaped 5.49m to better the old record of 5.46m set by J. Serete in 1982.
Joan Nyawira of Eastern also came close to breaking the old record with a 5.44m leap. Anne Marafu of Rift Valley in third place did 5.20m.
Hosea Macharinyang, a form three student at Kapcherop Secondary School in Marakwet - an area which has produced many top international runners like Abraham Chebii and Moses Kiptanui - won the 10,000 metres boys' race in 28:24.6 after out sprinting of William Tarus of Kebukeumuk Secondary who clocked 28:25.6.
His time compared favourably with Armed Forces champion John Korir who clocked 28:24.1 in the annual meeting considered the second toughest after the nationals last month. Macharinyang was faster than Kenya Police champion Paul Kimugul who ran 29:10.4, also in May.
Macharinyang, sixth at the 10km in the Media Blenio Grand Prix meet in Dongio, Switzerland last March will not be going to the World Youth Championships but improved his chances of qualifying for the continental junior championships.
He returns at Kasarani on Wednesday next week for the national junior championships bringing together Primary and Secondary Schools runners who are gunning for places in the national team for the World Youth.
The championships will also act as a curtain raiser for the nationals.
In another track final of the day Alphine Taliamuk of Western clocked 16:19.8 to win the girls 5000m ahead of Nancy Wambui of Central (16:29.8) and Vivian Cheruiyot of Rift Valley (16:55.1).
Lydia Rotich of Rift Valley won the 3000m Steeplechase in 10:25.8 followed by Charity KIprono (Rift Valley), 10:26.7 and Ruth Nyangau (Nyanza) 10:26.6.
There was action galore in the field events especially in the shot put and javelin. Gerald Njunguna of Central three the shot put a distance of 14.01 metres while Coast’s Robert Wanita did 13.94 and Rochad Kinyua (Central) 13.57.
Peter Njenga (Daily Nation) for the IAAF
Selected results
Boys
10,000m
1. Hosea Macharinyang (RVP), 28:24.6
2. William Tarus, RVP, 28:25.6
3. Humphrey KIptalam, Western, 29:33.8
Shot Put
1. Gerald Njunguna, Central, 14:01
2. Robert Wamita, Coast, 13:94
3. Richard Kinyua, Central, 13.57;
Girls
5000m:
1. Alphine Taliamuk, Western, 16:19.8
2. Nancy Wambui, Central, 16:29.5
3. Vivian Cheruiyot, RVP, 16:55.1
3000m steeplechase:
1. Lydia Kiprono, RVP, 10:225.8
2. Ruth Nyangau, Nyanza, 10:26.6
3. Ruth Waithera, Central, 10:40.9.
Javelin:
1: Mary Njeri, Central, 41.55
2. Elizabeth Karagu, Central, 35.58
3. Naomi Kosgei, RVP, 30:03
