Former Boston Half Marathon Champion Brilliant Jepkorir and 10,000m World silver medallist Daniel Ebenyo are this year’s national cross-country champions in the 10km races held today at the Eldoret Sports Club.
Jepkorir from Kenya Prisons, who is a road running specialist athlete, beat a star-studded field to emerge victorious in 34 minutes, 29.1 seconds, ahead of North Rift’s Maurine Jepkoech, who took 2nd position in 32:32.7 minutes, while Stacy Ndiwa of Police finished 3rd in 34:54.5 minutes.
Ebenyo, the national police champion, had to wait until the last two laps to beat his rival, Kibiwott Kandie of the Kenya Defence Forces, who was leading for the better part of the race.
Little-known Nickson Kogei of Kenya Wildlife Services finished 2nd in 30:52.6 minutes, followed by Simon Mungai from the central region, who completed the podium positions in 30:55.7 minutes.
Lornah Cherono emerged victorious in the 6 km under-20 women by clocking in 21 minutes 11.7 seconds, followed by Joyline Chepkemoi from Central Rift and Cynthia Chepkurui of Nairobi in 2nd and 3rd positions, respectively.
Kevin Kiprop of Central Rift won the 8 km under-20 men after crossing the finish line in 24 minutes, 57.4 seconds, ahead of Frankline Kibet of North Rift and South Rift’s Emmanuel Lemiso in 2nd and 3rd positions in that order.
Ebenyo and Jepkorir were awarded Ksh 200,000 each for their victories.
The race marked the conclusion of the cross-country season, which now paves the way for the Sirikwa World Cross Country championships set for Lobo Village, Kapseret, in two weeks time.
Sports CS Salim Mvurya, who graced the event, reiterated the government’s commitment to support athletes ahead of this year’s World Athletics Championships this September in Tokyo, Japan.
National Olympics Committee of Kenya President Paul Tergat reassures that NOCK will support young athletes who will compete in this year’s Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal.
