Ngeny takes Kenyan trials easy
Peter Njenga for the IAAF
21 June 2001 - Nairobi - Olympic champion
Noah Ngeny could afford to ease off in his 1500 metres qualifying heat round as Leonard
Mucheru recorded the best time overall in the Kenyan trials at the Moi International
Sports Centre in the outskirts of Nairobi.
“We have a lot of mileage to cover before the finals, so there is no need to burn myself today,” said Ngeny who is running for his employer, the Kenya Armed Forces.
Ngeny posted 3:44.0 seconds, compared to Mucheru’s 3:43.5. He didn’t consider that a bad performance nor is he bothered by another surprise defeat by Bernard Lagat in Europe recently. But Laban Rotich fizzled to sixth.
Lagat, a bronze medallist in Sydney, also didn’t attack and he finished second behind Shadrack Lagat with 3:43.8 and 3:44.1, respectively, which promises a tough showdown between the four in the final on Saturday.
The trials are reflective of Kenya’s position when it is rebuilding its athletics following the recent retirement of runners who have dominated the sport for the last 10 years. And nowhere was this more apparent than in the 3000m steeplechase, where Wilson Boit, Matthew Birir and world record holder Bernard Barmasai were the only veterans in competition. Of course the juniors were led by Olympic champion Reuben Kosgei, winner of the third heat in 8:32.0.
“I have a big burden on my shoulders,” said the youthful champion who surprised the established order of Kenya in Sydney with his exhilarating victory.
“I know I am facing giants and would certainly like to beat them and book a place in the World Championships team.”
Winner of the first heat, Birir, a gold medallist in the Barcelona Olympics nine years ago is trying to make an impression on an event he briefly dominated before former World Champion Moses Kiptanui and a legion of others swept him aside in later years. He clocked 8:38.0. The first day, which separates the men from the boys, lacked any notable performance with all the elites fighting to stay in contention before the finals when the elusive Edmonton World Championships qualifying marks will be seriously assaulted.
These standards have remained elusive in local competition this season with the exception of two athletes Erza Sambu (400m), Joel Marwa (800m).
Day One selected results
400m hurdles:
1. Hilary Maritim (A/forces) 50.93; 2. Julius Bungei (RVP) 51.54; 3. Eric Keter (Kecoso)
52.45; 4. Mumo Kiilu (A/Forces) 52.46; 5. David Ruto (Police)52.51; 6. Gideon Biwott
(A/Forces) 52.72. 7. James Kotut (Police) 52.97; 8. Mike
Rop (Kecoso) 53.18.
1500m
Heat one:
1.Leornard Mucheru (individual) 3:43.5; 2. Noah Ngeny (A/Forces) 3:44.0; 3. Fred Cheruiyot
(Police) 3:44.2; 4. Cornelius Chirchir (Individual) 3:44.4; 5.Eliud Njubi (University)
3:44.6; 6. Joseph Lomala (Prisons) 3:44.8; 7. Laban Rotich (A/Forces) 3:44.0; 8. Sammy
Kiplangat (RVP) 3:45.4; 9. Paul Mwangi (Individual) 3:45.5; 10. Abdullahi Koech (Eastern)
3:46.0;11. Musa Kimeli (Individual) 3:47.6; 12. Abraham
Maiyo (Prisons) 3:48.5
Heat two:
1. Shadrack Langat (Kecoso) 3:43:08; 2. Bernard Lagat (University) 3:44.1; 3. David
Kipsang (Western) 3:44.3; 4. William Chirchir (RVP) 3:44.4; 5. Ronald Rono (Nyanza)
3:44.6; 6. Bonface Kiprotich (Individual) 3:45.0;. Jonah Birir (Individual) 3:45.3; 8.
Benjamin Cheruiyot (Individual) 3:45.4; 9. Isaac Sang (Police) 3:45.8; 10. Martin Keino
(Individual) 3:46.1; 11. Sammy Mutai (A/Forces) 3:47.2; 12. Geoffrey Bisera (Police) 3:48.1.
800m: Heat one
1.Wilfred Bungei, 1:47.0; 2. David Lelei, 1:47.5; 3.
Charles Makau, 1:47.7; 4. Njembe Maswi, 1:48.8; 5. Vincent Malakwen, 1:50.7; 6. Evans Unkomba, 1:51.1; 7. Ismael Ahmed,
1:51.4; 8. Abdulahi Ahmed, 12:52.4
Heat two:
1. Kenneth Kimwetich, 1:46.7; 2. Nicholas Wachira, 1:46.9; 3. Japhet Kimutai, 1:47.2; 4.
Jackoson Kiprotitch, 1:47.5; 5. Enock Kwemoi, 1:48.4; 6.
Justus Kokon, 1:48.7; 7. Anthony Kubabu, 1:49.9; 8. Kernneth Kiprono,
1:50.5.
Heat three:
1. William Yampoi, 1:48.5; 2. Francis Marwa, 1:48.8; 3. Robert Chirchir, 1:49.3; 4.
Nahason Ruto, 1:50.3; 5. Daniel Samuel, 1:50.5; 6. Joseph
Kibet, 1:51.2; 7. James Martim, 1:52.9; 8. Abdilah Ahmed, 2:00.00.
Heat four:
1. Joseph Mutua, 1:48.5; 2. Paul Korir, 1:48.7; 3. David
Kiptoo, 1:48.9; 4. David Cheruiyot, 1:49.2; 5. Moses Kibet, 1:49.4; 6. Leonard Kikuti,
1:50.2; 7. Philip Rotich, 1:50.6; 8. Julius Kiptum, 1:53.1.
Heat Five:
Benjamin Kipkurui, 1:49.2; 2. Michael Rotich, 1:44.4; 3. Joel Marwa. 1:44.6; 4. Kipkemboi
Lagat, 1:50.1; 5. Felix Lebo, 1:50.4; 6. Daniel Wambugu, 1:50.9
Heat Six:
1. Dedan Maina, 1:51.1; 2. Patrick Ndururi, 1:51.4; 3. Stephen Mwangi, 1:51.6.
3000m steeplechase:
Heat one.
1. Mathew Birir, Individual 8:38.0; 2. Wilson Boit, 8:40.0; 3. John Langat, 8:40.6; 4.
Philip Manyim (RVP) 8:42.3.
Heat two:
1. Paul Koech, Indi, 8:30.4; 2. Bernard Barmasai, 8:36.7; 3. John Kosgei, 8:38.4; Abraham
Chelimo (Indvidual) 8:44.3.
Heat three:
Reuben Kosgei (RVP) 8:32.0; 2. Raymond Yator (RVP) 8:32.1; 3. Julius Nyamu (RVP) 8:32.3;
4. Mike Kiptanui (Individual) 8:32.5.
Women
400m hurdles
1.Mary Chebet (Prisons) 64.1; 2. Sarah Imbayi (Kecoso)64.4; 3. Janet Chepkoskei (RVP)
61.2; 4. Joyce Martim (RVP) 62.3; 5. Catherine Kagwiria (Police) 63.1; 6. Praekcides
Chemaringo (A/Forces) 63.1; 7. Faith Loko (A/Forces) 66.0; 8. Gerina Mbinya (A/Forces)
67.2
800m:
Heat one
1. Faith Macharia (Individual) 2:06.5; 2. Janet
Chepkosgei (RVP) 2:06.7; 3.Gladys Maina (Police) 2:08.9; 4. Mary Njeri (Nairobi)
2:09.2.
Heat two:
1. Grace Njoki (AF) 2:07.6; 2. Fanice Chepkorir (RVP) 2:08.2; 3. Margaret Chirchir
(Kecoso) 2:10.6; 4. Caroline Jelagat (Prisons) 2:11.4.
1500m Heat one:
1. Naomi Mugo (A/Forces) 4:17.0; 2. Chelangat Kibiwott (RVP) 4:17.3; Jane Kiptoo (RVP)
4:20.4; 4. 4. Carolyn Kwambai (Prisons) 4:21.0; 5.
Jacinta Muraguri (Prisons) 4:21.1; 6. Mary Wangare (A/Forces) 4:22.2; 7. Salome
Chepchumba (Individual) 4:22.7; 8. Emily Chepkoskei (Nairobi) 4:22.8; 9. Pamela Anisomu
(Western) 4:23.5; 10.Josephine Wanjiru (A/Forces) 4:23.8; 11. Judy Kiplkimo (Prisons)
4:25.8.
