John Cheruiyot Korir wins the 2003 Kenyan champs 10,000m (© Omulo Okoth)
Nairobi, KenyaCommonwealth Games 5000m champion Sammy Kipketer replaced Benjamin Limo as the Kenyan 5000m champion on the third and final day of the Kenyan Championships on Saturday.
Kipketer won the race in 13:35.65, with Limo in second place in 13:36.04 and World 10,000m champion Charles Kamathi third in 13:37.04 on a relatively warmer day interspersed by some chilly spells at the Moi Kasarani stadium in the outskirts of capital Nairobi.
It is worth noting that Kipketer and Limo finished in that order at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, last August.
But if the final day of the championships, which were a dress rehearsal for the World Championships trials due to be held July 25-26, were marked by some exciting performances, there were also a fair share of disappointments.
Commonwealth 10,000m Wilberforce Talel was floored to fifth position in the 10,000m, which was won by John Cheruiyot Korir in 28:12. Salim Kipsang was second in 28:17.3 and Enock Mitei third in 28:22.5. Talel, who won in Manchester where Korir placed fourth, clocked 28:35.0 behind Gilbert Okari, who clocked 28:31.8.
Korir did not celebrate his 10,000m victory in a manner befitting a newly-crowned national champion, with the likes of last year's champion Paul Kosgei watching from the terraces with an injury, Kamathi running in the 5000m, and Patrick Ivuti opting to wait for the World Championships trials, Korir wanted to be cautious.
"It is not yet time to celebrate. I know the trials will be very tough because all the top boys will be around. This was just to test the waters and I can see I am ready for the real battle ahead," Korir told reporters.
As well as Talel there was one other major casualty, and that was the 1997 World 3000m Steeplechase champion Wilson Boit Kipketer, who was blown away by 22-year-old Commonwealth Games silver medallist Ezekiel Kemboi in one of the most exciting races of the day.
Kemboi, the 2001 African junior champion won the race by some 50 metres, clocking 8:21.7. Commonwealth bronze medallist Abraham Cherono was second in 8:29.0.
Boit, who is also a former World record holder, and won the Olympic silver in Sydney, finished a poor seventh in 8:38.0.
The 2001 World Youth 1500m champion Isaac Songok upset Armed Forces champion Robert Rono in the 1500m in 3:38.6, while 1998 World Junior 800m champion William Chirchir was beaten to fourth place in the 800m by 1996 World Junior
champion Mwengi Mutua, who won in 1:45.97. Chirchir was timed in 1:46.67.
Three women who contested the 4-km race at the last World Cross Country Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland, lined up in the 5000m race but Edith Masai, who took the ultimate prize in Switzerland emerged the winner in 15:23.8, from Isabella Ochichi (fourth in Lausanne) who clocked 15:25.6. Prisca Jepleting, 11th in the same race in Lausanne, was third in 15:35.7.
Omulo Okoth for the IAAF
RESULTS
MEN
100m
1 Stanley Towett 10.69
2 Evans Raro 10.73
3 Levi Wasike 10.82
200m
1 Vincent Mumo 20.65
2 Ezra Sambu 20.88
3 Japheth Ogamba 21.31
400m
1 Ezra Sambu 45.26
2 Victor Kibet 46.11
3 Sammy Rono 46.14
800m
1 Mwengi Mutua 1:45.97
2 Justus Koech 1:46.06
3 Michael Rotich 1:46.38
1500m
1 Isaac Songok 3:38.6
2 Robert Rono 3:38.8
3 James Geemi 3:40.0
5000m
1 Sammy Kipketer 13:35.65
2 Benjamin Limo 13:36.04
3 Charles Kamathi 13:37.04
10,000m
1 John C. Korir 28:12.0
2 Salim Kipsang 28:17.3
3 Enock Mitei 28:22.5
110m H
1 James Kotut 14.53
2 Daniel Kogei 14.56
3 Michael Rop 14.58
400m H
1 Vincent Mumo 49.9
2 Daniel Kibet 50.3
3 Hillary Maritim 50.7
3000m SC
1 Ezekiel Kemboi 8:21.7
2 Abraham Cherono 8:29.0
3 Mark Tanui 8:29.8
20KM Walk
1 Julius Sawe 1:22:53
2 Josephat Sirma 1:25:39
3 Enock Muchende 1:27:08
Pole Vault
1 Churchil Kirui 4.10
2 James Kirimi 4.10
3 Kenneth Kirui 4.00
Javelin
1 Tarimoi ole Sololo 70.32
2 Paul Lagat 68.98
3 Peter Saina 68.03
Hammer
1 Paul Kipkorir 50.29
2 David Odiyo 49.84
3 Kimeli Tanui 49.82
High Jump
1 Justus Musembi 2.12
2 Stancilus Mutunga 2.05
3 Suleiman Mwatabu 1.95
WOMEN
100m
1 Helen Chemtai 12.06
2 Annet Mwanzia 12.56
3 Zipporah Ratemo 12.58
200m
1 Helen Chemtai 24.20
2 Jacinta Wambui 24.66
3 Josephine Nyarunda 24.83
400m
1 Jacinta Wambui 53.94
2 Elizabeth Muthoka 55.53
3 Josephine Nyarunda 55.97
800m
1 Janet Busienei 2:07.44
2 Gladys Kwambai 2:07.67
3 Tecla Chemutai 2:08.30
1500m
1 Jackline Maranga 4:14.1
2 Viola Kibiwott 4:14.8
3 Mary Wangari 4:16.3
5000m
1 Edith Masai 15:23.8
2 Isabella Ochichi 15:25.6
3 Prisca Jepleting 15:35.7
100mH
1 Caroline Kola 15.67
2 Caren Nyakawa 15.69
3 Georgina Mbinya 15.74
400m H
1 Joyce Maritim 1:01.82
2 Callen Nyakawa 1:01.81
3 Betty Chelagat 1:04.76
2000m SC
1 Salome Jepchumba 6:27.4
2 Eunice Jepkorir 6:29.6
3 Eunice Chepkurui 6:33.0
20KM Walk
1 Grace Wanjiru 1:42.14
2 Rael Rotich 1:52.35
3 Monica Akoth 1:53.25
Discus
1 Cecilia Kiplangat 39.13
2 Ann Too 36.54
3 Loyce Chepkwony 35.15
Triple Jump
1 Helen Chemtai 11.93
2 Mercy Cherotich 11.86
3 Caroline Cherop 11.56
Hammer
1 Caroline Kola 30.49
2 Pascaline Jeptanui 28.06
3 T. Otieno 25.48
Shot Putt
1 Caroline Kola 12.76
2 Priscila Isiaho 11.84
3 Pascaline Jeptanui 11.82
