Top men fail to perform

By CHRIS MUSUMBA

World 5,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot claimed the bragging rights for the CID Department on Saturday, beating a field of star athletes returning home to compete in the Kenya Police cross country championship at Ngong Racecourse.

In the men’s race, top athletes could not cope with the demanding course as Sammy Kitwara, Gideon Ngatunyi, Isaac Songok, Paul Kipsiele Koech and Olympic marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru disappointed. Joseph Kirui of CID emerged tops in 37 minutes, 41 seconds.

Defending champion Kitwara was relegated to the eighth slot.

Having skipped the local circuit, Masai and Cheruiyot met for the first time since the start of the new campaign in November as they gave up chasing lucrative European competitions to don the blue uniform for the Kenya Police Championship.

Pounced to claim victory

Pascalia Chepkorir set the pace from the gun, taking her colleagues through the first 2km lap with the leading pack of Masai, Cheruiyot, Margaret Wangare, Joyce Wairimu and Grace Momanyi in hot pursuit.

In a race that attracted 115 contestants, Wairimu and Wangare fizzled out as outsider Edna Kiplagat seized the opportunity to narrow the gap with the leading pack halfway through the race. She lasted until the 7km mark when Masai took charge.

Cheruiyot waited until the home stretch before she pounced to claim victory in 28:28. Masai came second six seconds later while Grace Momanyi (28:39) finished third, ahead of Kiplagat (28.54) in fourth.

“I felt really strong in this race. I have no doubt about my fitness and I look forward to doing well. But I will first go for the Indoor Games in Doha where I plan to run in the 3,000m race,” said Cheruiyot.

Results

12km Men: Joseph Kirui (CID) 37:41, Vincent Yator (KAPU) 37:43, Philemon Kimeli (Eastern) 37:51, Richard Mateelong (KPC) 38:08, Joel Kimelel (Dog Unit) 38:09, Bernard Kipyego (Nyanza) 38:15, John Thuo (HQs) 38:18, Sammy Kitwara (GSU) 38:27, Silas Kipruto (Coast) 38:34, Titus Mbishei (CID) 38:39; 8km Women: Vivian Cheruiyot (CID) 28:28, Linet Masai (GSU) 28:34, Grace Momanyi (Railway) 28:39, Edna Kiplagat (Nyanza) 28:54, Margaret Wangare (Coast) 29:02, Pamela Lisoreng (Indiv) 29:32, Ann Cheptanui (KAPU) 29:33, Lydia Rotich (Traffic) 29:36, Pascalia Chelangat (Traffic) 29:43, Monica Wangare (Dog Unit) 29:50

But for Masai, it was a race too soon having just landed from Spain on Tuesday.
“”I did really well today. It was my best run and I believe I need to improve on my sprint. The secret to success is training well and I hope I will make the Kenyan team. I have a month to improve and from then it will be team work,” she said.
Masai will now focus her attention on local training as she seek to get the form that will help her win in Bydgoszcz, Poland on March 24 during the World cross Country Championship in Poland.
In the men race, top athletes failed to cope with the demanding course as Kitwara, Gideon Ngatunyi, Olympic marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru, Isaac Songok, Paul Kipsiele Koech all disappointed.
It was Kirui who emerged top winning in 37:41 edging out Vincent Yator 37:43 while Philemon Kimeli was third in 37:51. World 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Richard Matelong was fourth in 38:08 while Joel Kimelel came in fifth in 38:09.
“The race was tough and I am happy to win. Now the target is to win in the nationals and make the Kenya team,” said Kirui.
Samuel Wanjiru was a distant 39 clocking 40:42 while Kipsiele settled for position 31.
“After my win in Chicago, I have been nursing a back injury which has ruled me out ever since. I only started training this month. My next race will be in March in Lisbon before heading to London marathon in April. There should be no cause for alarm because there is enough time to get fit,” said Wanjiru who was recruited recently and ran for CID.

Results
12km Men: Joseph Kirui (CID) 37:41, Vincent Yator (KAPU) 37:43, Philemon Kimeli (Eastern) 37:51, Richard Mateelong (KPC) 38:08, Joel Kimelel (Dog Unit) 38:09, Bernard Kipyego (Nyanza) 38:15, John Thuo (HQs) 38:18, Sammy Kitwara (GSU) 38:27, Silas Kipruto (Coast) 38:34, Titus Mbishei (CID) 38:39
8km Women: Vivian Cheruiyot (CID) 28:28, Linet Masai (GSU) 28:34, Grace Momanyi (Railways) 28:39, Edna Kiplagat (Nyanza) 28:54, Margaret Wangare (Coast) 29:02, Pamela Lisoreng (Indiv) 29:32, Ann Cheptanui (KAPU) 29:33, Lydia Rotich (Traffic) 29:36, Pascalia Chelangat (Traffic) 29:43, Monica Wangare (Dog Unit) 29:50