Kenyan youngster claims massive win at US College Championships

Kenyan long-distance runner Brian Musau earned a rare feat in his burgeoning career after taking his second 5000m national title at the NCAA Championships at Hayward Field, Oregon.

The 18-year-old, representing his college - Oklahoma State - cemented himself as the man to beat over the distance as he surged his way to victory in a time of 13:20.59.

The win, delivered in emphatic fashion, was the culmination of a race the Kenyan mastered beautifully, clocking a staggering 4:01 in the final 1600 meters to lead at the bell, before fending off the challenge of Vilanova’s Marco Langdon and New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel.

Samuel finished second in 13:20.89, while Langdon clocked 13:21.17 in third place.

Victory for Musau was significant as it gave him his second national title, following his win in the 5000m indoor championships earlier this year.

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It was also his second straight first-team All-America finish in the 5K after placing fourth last season.

“Feeling happy and excited that I made it,” Musau told Citius Mag after his big win. “My plan today was to sit in behind, let my competitors do the work, and when my time comes, dash to the finish.”

Musau, who also ran in the 800m, said he had “big belief” in himself coming into the championships as the indoor champion, and bigged himself up as “capable” of fighting for a place in the World Championships in Tokyo later this year.

Athletic Kenya announced that the Team Kenya trials - separate from the men’s 10,000m and women’s 5,000m to be held in the Prefontaine Classic on 5 July - will be held on Friday, 1 August and Saturday, 2 August at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.

It will be interesting to see if the Cowboy is ready.

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On Saturday night, Musau's Kenyan schoolmate Isca Chelangat will run in the women's 5,000m final.