L. MathekaLoibach storms Team Kenya as Kimaru floors bigwigs Kandie and Kamworor in sweet win
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 10.12.22. | 17:30
The junior races were won by Faith Cherotich and Ismael Kirui.
Teenage sensation Grace Loibach might have been somewhat a novice as she stepped on the course for the Athletics Kenya (AK) World Cross Country Championships trials held in Ruiru, but she did not let that stop her jn her quest for glory.
Having only competed in one senior Cross Country event before today, the 19-year-old beat a star-studded field to time 32:32.3 in the women's 10 km race and lead the list of the Kenyans that will fly the country’s flag in Bathurst when the global championship is held next year.
"It was not an easy race but I am happy for the win. I have only trained for six months since finishing high school and in my first race, I managed second place and won at the AK Sotik leg. I also won in Machakos, the season-opening leg but I competed in the junior category.
As we prepare for the competition proper, I will be targeting gold. I know it will be no easy task but I will prepare well," Loibach an alumnus of St Joseph's Secondary School Kapseret, Eldoret said.
In the men's race, former world half marathon champion Kibiwott Kandie, multiple world cross country champion Geoffrey Kamworor, Olympians Daniel Simiu and Nicholas Kimeli and a host of other experienced runners took the lead in the first 2km loop and with Sebastian Kimaru in the mix.
Kimaru stayed with the leading pack for the four loops as the leading pack was only broken into a straight line in the final 2km as Kimaru broke away to win in 28:22.5 ahead of Simiu who had stayed at the helm of the leading pack for four laps.
Simiu clocked 28:28.0 to finish more than two seconds ahead of Kenya Defence Forces' (KDF) Kandie who managed a 28:30.3. The rest of the squad will be composed of Emmanuel Kiprop, Nicholas and Kamworor.
"This is my first time to make Team Kenya. It was no mean feat to win this event or to make the top six but I was not worried as I have competed against most of these athletes in the past and I know what to expect from them," the Claudio Berardelli-coached athlete offered.
The AdiZero Road to Records 10km silver medalist says he will be ready to battle the big names in Australia when the global championship is held as he looks to bring glory for Kenya.
