NPS Championship: False start for Manang'oi as Kipsang carries the day

World Athletics Indoor Championships bronze medalist Abel Kipsang was a cut above his peers in the National Police Service (NPS) Championship 1500m men's race where he clocked 3:36.28 to win.

Although he did not get close to his personal best, the olympian withstood stiff competition from, among others former world 1500m champion Elijah Manang'oi and former world Under-20 1500m champion Kumari Taki for victory. 

Kipsang is sharpening for battle at the end of the month where Athletics Kenya (AK) will holds its national championships that double as the trials for the Senior African Athletics Championships set for June in Mauritius. 

The 25-year old who misses out on a medal at the Tokyo Olympics after finishing fourth is looking to represent the country in upcoming championships including the Commonwealth Games and World championships. 

"I had a good race, running from the front has been my strategy as I love the pressure that comes with it. I feed off such and while I am happy for this win, I know I have work to do if I am to make any of the teams for upcoming international championships. 

I go back to training, with less than two weeks to the national event. I might have made the podium at the Indoor Championship but I expect more competitive fields in upcoming events. I am, however, targeting gold in all races that I take part in," said Kipsang. 

Taki finished second in 3:36.84 while Robert Biwot completed the podium places in 3:37.74. In a race that was dominated by Kipsang from gun to tape, leaving the rest of the field to fight for second position, Manang'oi was still rusty and managed a seventh-place in 3:43.21. 

Eyes on Asbel Kiprop as Police championship gets underway

Kenyas, and the world, will, however, wait longer for the return of former Olympic and World champion Abel Kiprop who gave the event a wide berth.

In the men’s 800m, 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Wycliffe Kinyamal clocked 1:45.11, just two seconds off his personal best to win the race ahead of Nobert Kolombos (1:47.16) and Jeremiah Mutai (1:47.42). 

The women's 800m title expectedly went to Olympian Mary Moraa in a slow 2:04.63 ahead of Gloria Chepchumba (2:05.81) with former African, Commonwealth Games and world champion Eunice Sum finishing third in 2:06.03. 

Meanwhile, Isaac Kirwa, carried the day in both triple jump and long jump managing a 15.52 m leap in triple jump and 7.26m in the latter tk fall short of his target to hit Senior African Athletics Championships' qualifying marks. 

Former World Championships silver medalist Mercy Cherono clocked 15:20.12 to win the women's 5000m ahead of 2018 World Under-20 5000m champion Beatrice Chebet (15:33.15) and NPS cross country choices Caroline Nyaga. 

Rhonex Kipruto and Margret Chelimo carried the day in men's and women's 10000m while Beatrice Chepkoechanaged a double winning the women's 1500m and 3000m steeplechase.