Florence Kiplagat wins in Eldoret over 8km (© Peter Njenga)
Hosea Macharinyang won the sixth and final Athletics Kenya Weekend Cross Country meeting of the current season, which was held at the IAAF High Altitude Performance Centre in Eldoret, today.
Florence Kiplagat, 19, emerged victorious in the senior women’s race.
Unlike the last five weekend races held in muddy conditions, athletes in Eldoret, 320km west of the capital, enjoyed sunshine and a lush green dry course.
MEN - Macharinyang, second in the 27th Cross Internacional de Venta de Banos last month, could not be denied as his growing wealth of experience on different courses and weather conditions acted to his own advantage. Going by his form, he will be the man to beat at the nationals on 12 February which is also an IAAF permit meeting.
Macharinyang dropped all would be contenders for the top position by the 11th kilometre and had only Robert Sigei to contend with, and his strong finish decisive as he crossed in 36:12. Sigei settled for second in 36:26.
Evans Cheruiyot was third in 36:42, with 2005 World Junior Cross Country Championships silver medallist Bernard Kipyego, third in 36:48.
WOMEN - Florence Kiplagat, the 2006 World Junior 5000m silver medallist, won the senior women’s 8km after breaking away from the pack with 2km remaining in the race and proceeded to win in 27:04.
A distant second was Ann Cheptanui (27:17) who was followed across the line in 27:22 by Mercy Kosgei, silver medallist in 2006 World Juniors at 1500m, who was victorious in the junior category in Kericho two weeks ago.
JUNIORS - A new set of junior runners who had not been present in the last five races waged a very close fight in the boys’ race which was decided in the last 50 metres. Joseph Kitur had the last laugh, thanks to his sprinting prowess. He posted 23:23, ahead of Jonathan Kipkorir and Felix Kibore who clocked 23:24 and 23:27 respectively. The favourite Levy Matebo, who was the Tegla Loroupe Peace Race champion, finished 5th in 23:43.
The junior women's 6km produced a result which is likely to be mirrored when the national team for the World Cross Country Championships is selected.
World Junior champion Pauline Korikwiang who was beaten into second position by Kosgei in Kericho, won in 19:47. She was followed home by the national secondary schools’ runners-up Gladys Chemweno in 20:02.
Peter Njenga (Daily Nation) for the IAAF
RESULTS of the sixth and final Athletics Kenya Weekend Cross Country Championships
Senior men 12km
1: Hosea Macharinyang, 36:12
2: Robert Sigei, 36:26
3: Evans Cheruiyot, 36:42
4: Bernard Kipyego, 36:48
5: Henry Sugut, 37:15
6: William Kipsang, 37:18
Junior men 8km
1: Joseph Kitur, 23:23
2: Jonathan Kipkorir, 23:24
3: Felix Kibore, 23:27
4: Matthew Kisorio, 23:37
5: Levy Matebo, 23:43
6: Geoffrey Kisorio, 23:44
Senior women 8km
1: Florence Kiplagat, 27:04
2: Ann Cheptanui, 27:17
3: Mercy Kosgei, 27:22
4: Milka Cherotich, 27:26
5: Eunice Jepkorir, 27:30
6: Jemutai Rionotukei, 27:35
Junior women 6km
1: Pauline Korkwang, 19:47
2: Gladys Chemweno, 20:02
3: Edna Jerono, 20:27
4: Rebecca Chesire, 20:29
5: Jebichii Yator, 20:35
6: Edna Kimaiyo, 20:46
