Benson Kiplangat crowned national junior cross country champion
Benson Kiplagat wins the Athletics Kenya/Lotto National Cross Country Championships Under-20 men 8 kilometres race held at Lobo Village in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County on January 22, 2022.
What you need to know:
- It was a pulsating exchange between Kiplangat, Samuel Kibathi from Central and North Rift's Reynold Kipkorir in the last two of the four-lap race
- It's Kiplangat who broke away after the the last lap signal and would build on his lead to win in 24 minutes and 08.0 seconds
- Kibathi gave a good chase but Kiplangat's endurance and speed proved supreme as the Central Region athlete settled second in 24:16.9 with Kipkorir coming in third in 24:21.4
World Under-20 5,000m champion Benson Kiplangat from South Rift destroyed two of his rivals in the last lap to clinch men’s Under-20 8km title during the Athletics Kenya/Lotto National Cross Country Championships at Lobo Village, Eldoret on Saturday.
It was a pulsating exchange between Kiplangat, Samuel Kibathi from Central and North Rift's Reynold Kipkorir in the last two of the four-lap race.
However, it's Kiplangat who broke away after the the last lap signal and would build on his lead to win in 24 minutes and 08.0 seconds.
Kibathi gave a good chase but Kiplangat's endurance and speed proved supreme as the Central Region athlete settled second in 24:16.9 with Kipkorir coming in third in 24:21.4.
"I thank God for this victory. The altitude took toll on us. The course was superb thought the surface was hard but I am glad to have finally conquered after finishing second last year in Nairobi," said Kiplangat. "Endurance cost me last year but I worked on it with long distance training in Keringet. "
Kiplangat said his focus is on defending his World Under-20 5,000m during the global event in August this year in Cali, Colombia.
Summarised results
1. Benson Kiplangat (South Rift) 24:08.0
2. Samuel Kibathi (Centra) 24:16.9
3. Reynod Kipkorir (South Rift) 24:21 4
4. Gedion Kipng’etich (North Eastern) 24:21.9
5. Shadrack Rono (South Rift) 24:29.9
6. Bernard Kipkirui (North Rift) 24:35.6
