Irene Kwambai wins the women's 5000m at the Kenyan Armed Forces Champs (© Peter Njenga)
Justus Koech showed great strength and resilience to win the men’s 800 metres final at the Kenyan Armed Forces Championships, an hour after finishing third in the 1500m at the Moi International Sports centre Kasarani in Nairobi yesterday (18), the second of two days of competition.
Koech who successfully defended his title in the two lap event also posted the fastest altitude time this season of 1:46.5 on a cloudy, cool afternoon which marked the beginning of the second phase of Kenyan domestic competition leading-up to IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Osaka, Japan at the end of August.
On the final bend Koech pulled-up level with Daniel Kandie (1:46.8) and veteran Joseph Mutua (1:47.1) before kicking to victory.
Earlier on, Koech had settled for third in the 1500m, a race won by Shadrack Korir, who triumphed in the 1500m of the opening IAAF World Athletics Tour 2007 meeting in Melbourne, Australia on 2 March, and took fifth place last week at the IAAF Super Grand Prix meet in Doha, Qatar in his season’s best of 3:32.76.
This was a classical battle of wits. Lord Torome who was to settle for fifth set the pace, which was then upped by Koech and then Gideon Gathimba, who would ultimately finish second. His lead was brief for Korir side-stepped out from the back of the pack to quickly overhaul everybody apart from Gathimba who resisted all the way to the tape before losing out in a photo finish. Korir clocked 3:45.6, Gathimba 3:45.7, with Koech, third 3:46.4.
After a thrilling first day’s (Thu 16) 10,000m when 2002 Commonwealth Games 5000m champion Sammy Kipketer lost out to Tom Nyariki in the final sprint, the former was still in good enough form to challenge in the 5000m which was watered down by the absence of 2005 World champion Benjamin Limo and former World Cross winner John Kibowen.
Again Kipketer was beaten in the sprint after leading the fairly experienced field until the last 150m when attention reverted to Mark Kiptoo, third in the Kenyan national cross country championships, and Josphat Kiprono. Kiptoo produced a superior sprint finish to win in 13:43.0 followed by Kiprono (13:43.4) and Kipketer (13:44.4).
Irene Kwambai won the women’s 5000m final to emerge the most durable female athlete of the championships having won the 10,000m on Thursday (16).
Doris Changeiywo who appeared on the cross country scene briefly two years ago was the only runner to match Kwambai before being passed towards the end by Kwambai who clocked 16:60.5. She settled for 16:34.1.
Peter Njenga (Daily Nation) for the IAAF
Results
Men
100m
1: Vincent Mumo, Mab, 10.62 2: Tom Masinde, Kn, 10.76 3: Jackson Mwaura, Thika, 10.93
200m
1: David Kirui, Nairobi, 21.3 2: Stephen Kamolo, Lanet, 21.5 3: Tony Chirchir, Nanyuki, 21.8
400m
1: David Kirui, Nairobi, 47.43 2: Mark Mutai, Lab, 47.57 3: Victor Kibet, Nanyuki, 47.61
800m
1: Justus Koech, Nairobi, 1:46.5 2: Daniel Kandie, Mab, 1:46.8 3: Joseph Mutua, Mab, 1:47.1
1500m
1: Shadrack Korir, Nanyuki, 3:45.6 2: Gideon Gathimba, Lab, 3:45.7 3: Justus Koech, Nairobi, 3:46.4
5000m
1: Mark Kiptoo, Lanet, 13:43.0 2: Josphat Kiprono, Mab, 13:43.4 3: Sammy Kipketer, Nanyuki, 13:44.4
3000m Steeplechase
1: Henry Talam, Mab, 8:34.4 2: David Lagat, Kahawa, 8:35.3 3: Patrick Ndhiwa, Lanet, 8:37.7
Women
100m
1: Josephine Nyarunda, Mab, 12.62 2: Susan Nyarunda, Mtg, 12.64 3: Priscila Isiayo, Lanet, 12.74
200m
1; Josephine Nyarunda, Mab, 25.4 2: Ann Karauni, Mtg, 25.6 3: Susan Nyarunda, Kn, 25.8
400m
1: Josephine Nyarunda, Mab, 56.34 2: Prisila Isiayo, Lanet, 57.46 3: Mercy Njeri, Mab, 57.74
800m
1; Charity Wandia, Kahawa, 2:09.4 2: Elphine Mose, Isiolo, 2:12.4 3: Jane Jelagat, Thika, 2:13.5
1500m
1: Susan Muthoni, Isiolo, 4:29.1 2: Jackline Chirchir, Thika, 4:29.7 3: Josephine Wanjiku, Isiolo, 4:30.0
5000m
1: Irene Kwambai, Emb, 16:30.5 2: Doris Changeiywo, Emb, 16:34.1 3: Sharon Jemutai, Isiolo, 16:35.6
