JONATHAN KOMEN for the Daily Nation World Cross Country Championships sensation Chemtai Rionotukei made a successful start in the cross country season as she won the seventh edition of Tecla Lorupe Kapenguria Peace Run women’s elites on Saturday.
Rionotukei thrilled the more than 3,000 people, among them Sports Minister Hellen Sambili, Ugandan Basic Education Minister Peter Lukoris, Administration Police Commandant Kinuthia Mbugua, two envoys and three local MPs.
Rionotukei, who was in the 2003 and 2004 national cross country teams, improved her sixth-finish at last year’s race strolling to victory in 34 minutes, 51.9 seconds beating Ruth Chemisto (Trans Nzoia) and Roselyne David of West Pokot who timed at 34:46.4 and 35:22.1 respectively.
“The race was challenging as usual. The men team pushed us into posting better times, which is quite okay in my campaigns to make the cut at the World Cross Country team next year,” said the 23 year-old Rionotukei.
Ugandans swept the podium-finish in warriors’ women’s 10km race, leaving the Kenyans to settle for the fifth place. The former warriors from the rustling-prone Bukwa village of Uganda were simply itching to testify that they had discarded the sordid business of cattle rustling as they dominated the 1-4 positions.
Barefoot
Caren Cheptoek, a mother of four and who ran barefoot, produced a storming run to victory stopping the clock at 41:23.17 ahead of Valentine Mukung (42:25.4) and Scofic Cheptang’an who returned second and third respectively. Ayen Marich of Uganda’s Karamoja came in fourth place in 44:31.3.
Francisca Cherotich, Dorcas Chesang and Viola Titika were the girls’ toast in the juniors’ races as Samson Kalamasaa, Samwel Chepoiywo and Haggai Krop topped in the boys’ junior category.
Kenneth Kimtai upstaged race veterans Elias Kemboi and David Plimo to win the men’s elite category in 31:63.52. Kemboi, a winner of the event in 2005 and 2007 editions, and David Plimo, who carried the 2003 and 2004 titles, finished returned second and third in 32:07.90 and 32;19.2 respectively.
“I believe the race will help us much in promoting peace in the area. Tecla has shown most of us an alternative of making money and I have always relayed the message to my friends who used to bank on the business of rustling,” said Kimtai, 24, who finished 14th at this year’s World Cross Country national trials.
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