Faith Kipyegon wins the 5000m at the Kenyan Championships (© Michelle Katami)
Kenya’s two-day World Championships Trials, held in cool conditions at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, produced a formidable team to represent the nation at the upcoming World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 next month.
On the first day of the trials, double world and Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon won the women’s 5000m. After a conservative start, Lilian Kasait was the first to make a move, but Kipyegon eventually overtook Kasait and forged on with the hard pace, and soon only three runners remained in the leading pack with 1000 metres to go.
Kasait and Kipyegon remained in the lead coming into the last lap. With 150 metres to go, Kipyegon began to pull away and eventually won in 14:53.90 with Kasait following in 14:56.50 and Margaret Chelimo placing third in 15:07.49. World cross-country champion Beatrice Chebet will likely join the Kenyan 5000m squad for Budapest as she has a wild card entry from winning the Diamond League title last year.
In the absence of world record-holder Kipyegon, who has a wildcard entry for the 1500m at the World Championships as the defending champion, 20-year-old Nelly Chepchirchir won the women’s 1500m comfortably in 3:59.77 – the fastest time ever achieved at altitude. Brenda Jebet was a distant runner-up in 4:03.00 ahead of Edinah Jebitok (4:04.57).
Commonwealth champion and African record-holder Ferdinand Omanyala was in a class of his own in the men’s 100m, winning in 9.85 (0.8m/s).
Mary Moraa – who already has a wildcard entry for the 800m at the World Championships as the 2022 Diamond League winner – stepped down to the 400m and improved on her own national record with 50.39.
In Moraa’s absence from the two-lap event, teenager Peninah Mutisha won in a PB of 1:59.55 ahead of Vivian Kiprotich (2:00.30) and Naomi Korir (2:01.87).
Nicholas Kimeli won the men’s 10,000m – the first track final of the championships – in an exciting climax. Kimeli, Daniel Ebenyo and Benard Kibet had broken away from the rest of the field, but Kibet started to falter with 200 metres to go. Kimeli went on to win in 27:29.8 and Ebenyo followed to take second in 27:30.5. Kibet was third in 27:33.5.
Ebenyo returned to run the 5000m on the second day and placed second again in a race won by world silver medallist Jacob Krop in 13:15.72 from Ebenyo’s 13:16.05. Cornelius Kemboi was third in 13:17.84.
A set of competitive heats in the men’s 800m set the tone for the final on day two. Emmanuel Wonyonyi took the title in 1:44.09 with Alex Kipngetich finishing second in 1:44.21 and Ferguson Rotich placing third in 1:44.71.
Timothy Cheruiyot, the 2019 world champion, won the men’s 1500m in a sprint finish in 3:34.01. Abel Kipsang (3:34.30) and Reynold Cheruiyot (3:34.34) took the other podium places.
World record-holder and 2019 world champion Beatrice Chepkoech won the women’s steeplechase in 9:09.43 ahead of youngsters Jackline Chepkoech (9:14.56) and Faith Jerotich (9:25.06).
A relatively new star emerged to win the men’s 3000m steeplechase. Simon Koech ran 8:22.55 to win by a clear margin from Abraham Kibiwott (8:26.45) and Leonard Bett (8:26.99).
“I want to restore the Kenyan glory in the 3000m steeplechase in Budapest,” said Koech.
In the women’s 10,000m, the opening event of the second day, Irine Kimais emerged victorious from a three-way battle, winning in 31:52.20. Agnes Ngetich finished in a close second in 31:52.45 and Catherine Relin was third in 31:54.59.
Elsewhere, Boniface Mweresa won the men’s 400m title in 45.42.
Justin Lagat for World Athletics
