Kandie shines in first Athletics Kenya meeting

Half marathon record holder Kibiwott Kandie clocked 28:28.0 at Athletics Kenya's (AK) first weekend meeting ongoing at the Nyayo National Stadium. 

Kandie broke away from the leading pack with four laps to go with Gilbert Kimunyani keeping chase but held on without a fight to win the heat and the race. 

Kimunyani was second in 28:37.7 while Peter Mwaniki crossed the line in 28:39.7 for third place. In the competition that was ran in two heats and the timings tabulated for the final list, Kandie's heat was the fastest as it produced the top seven athletes. 

Emmanuel Kemboi who won his heat in 29:28.9 came in eighth in the order of merit as Joseph Kimutai and Wesley Kimutai completed the top ten list in the 10K men's race. 

"This was my first track race after the cross country competition held at Ngong racecourse a fortnight ago. The mud at the course left me exhausted and my training for this meet was affected. I am, however, grateful that I managed to run well," Kandie said. 

He continued, " It was a very competitive heat but I was able to hold on for the win despite running under very hot conditions. I am now confident that my training is working and I am in the right track for Olympics qualification."

Kandie is looking to qualify for the Olympics 10k team and help end Kenya's 53-year wait for a gold medal in the distance at the Summer Games. Kenya's last Olympics gold in the 10k race came in 1968 when Naftali Temu won in Mexico. Paul Tergat and Paul Tanui won silver in 2000 and 2016 respectively. 

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) athlete smashed the half marathon world record by 29 seconds at the Valencia Half Marathon last year, finishing in 57:32 to break the previous record of 58:01 set by Compatriot Geoffrey Kamworor in September