L. MathekaMore athletes book National Cross Country slots
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 16.01.22. | 15:27
The national competition is scheduled for 22 January while the world event is set for 12 February 2022
Athletics Kenya (AK) will hold its national cross country championship this Saturday, 22 January at Lobo Village, Uasin Gishu County , the venue that will also play host to the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting next month.
While the world event is invitation-based, the National competition draws its participants from different affiliates. This weekend, several regions including Nairobi held their events to select teams that would represent them at the national competition.
Athletes will compete in the 5km Under-18 girls, 6km Under-18 boys, 6km Under-20 girls, 8km Under-20 boys and 10km senior men and women and mixed relays.
In Nairobi, Emily Chebet finally won the Nairobi Cross Country Championships senior women's 10km title held at the Kenya Prisons Service ground, Nairobi West on Saturday.
Chebet held off Kenyan-born steeplechaser Winfred Yavi of Bahrain in the last two of the five-lap course after thrilling exchange to triumph in 32:13.2 seconds. Chebet finished second last year.
In the men's race, Lang'ata's Geoffrey Rono dominated the field to win in 27:49.1 minutes beating compatriot Musa Mitei to second place in in 27:56.1. Meshak Letim from Dagoretti romped home third in 28:11.8.
Dennis Kipkurui (22:49.2) led Nehemiah Kipyegon (22:59.6) and Peter Kibui (23:03.0) all from Embakasi to a podium finish in the men's Under 20 8km category.
Florence Chepkoech, similarly, led her Lang'ata teammates to a clean sweep in the women's Under-20 6km race, clocking 19:33.9 to finish ahead of Triza Cherotich (19:49.2) and Yvonne Chepchirchir (20:02.9).
Langata's Fancy Chepkorir clocked 16:10.0 to win the 5km under-18 for girls ahead of Dorcas Chepkemoi and Sharon Chepkemei who timed 16:28.6 and 16:35.4 respectively.
The boys' 6km Under-18 category was won by Emmanuel Kosenya in 17:19.9 with William Rumpe and Amos Kipsang second and third in 17:25.1 and 17:42.8 respectively.
Meanwhile, Panuel Mkungo and his sister Irene Wawuda Mkungo won the men and women 10km titles respectively during AK Coast Regional Cross Country Championships at Shimo Annex in Mombasa on Saturday.
