By Joseph Ngure
After being dropped out of the national team twice, James Keter is now more determined to prove his worth this year.
Keter, 32, has vowed to upset to the big guns at the Kenya Commercial Bank Athletics Kenya trials on February 20 and get a slot in the national team.
As a warm-up to the task ahead, the Nandi Central runner overcame stiff opposition to win the senior men’s 12km race during the North Rift provincial championships on Saturday.
Taking advantage of a cool and calm weather at Chebororwa Farmers Training Centre in Marakwet District, the star clocked 33:23.7 in the 2km looped course to lead the provincial team to the selection.
"I was dropped from the national team in 2001 despite qualifying. This time round, I want to prove I am a force to reckon with in cross-country," warned the Kaptagat-based runner.
Despite trying to make the team in 2007 where he wanted to represent the country in Mombasa, he finished ninth at the trials.
Road racer Peter Kamais of Wareng’ was second in 33:33.8 with steeplechaser, Yusuf Biwott, from Nandi Central timing 33:37.1 to claim the third position.
In senior women, Philomena Cheyech, running for Eldoret East, easily won the race after running solo in the class competed by 59 athletes.
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