Chebet wins women's 10,000m at AK Kisumu meet

Sandra Felis Chebet Friday tore the murram track at Moi Stadium in Kisumu, to triumph in the women's 10,000 metres race of second Athletics Kenya Track and Field Meeting.

The race, which only had eight entrants, was the opener for the event that delayed after the little rain that pounded the Lakeside City on Wednesday night washed away the markings that had been done on the track. The organisers had to mark the track afresh on Friday morning.

The race started on a high with the quartet of Chebet (Lemotit camp), Nesphine Jepleting (KDF), Betty Chepkemoi (Central Rift) and Irine Kimasi (KDF) breaking away from the rest after the fourth lap.

Chebet and Jepleting then turned the race a battle of their own, going toe-to-toe until the final lap when the former romped home in 34 minutes and 32.4 seconds.

Chepleting came second in 34:48.9 while Betty Chepkemoi of Central Rift, who surrendered her lead after the fifth lap settled for third place in 35:16.4.

Chebet said she expected stiff competition and that her decision to compete in the women's 5,000m during the first Track and Field Meet held in Nairobi a fortnight ago contributed to her victory in Kisumu.

"In Nairobi I chose 5000m because I wanted to work on my speed. Today I was in good shape for the 10,000m and I am very happy of my performance," said Chebet who emerged second in the women's 5,000m in Nairobi.

She pulled out of the women's 1500m citing "poor shape" but she is hoping to have a memorable Kisumu meeting when she returns to the track in Sunday's 5000m women's final.

“I know it (the women’s 5000m finals) will also be tough but I am prepared for it,” she said.

Simiu wins

The men’s 5,000m had the highest number of entrants at 104, forcing the organisers to split it into four heats cum finals. 

It was heat two which was the most competitive - Daniel Simiu, the Nakuru City Half Marathon winner and Olympian held off stiff competition to win in 13:41.4. Bomet’s Kiprono Sotinik of heat four came second in 13:48.3 while St Patrick’s Cornelius Kemboi who emerged second in heat two with 13:56.3 was ranked third.

Nusra Rukia of Kenya Defence Forces, who was competing in her first race this year romped home in 15.3 to win the women's 100m hurdles, ahead of Veronica Chebet of the National Police Service (NPS) who was late by three microseconds. 

Diana Chebet, also of the NPS, was third in 15.8. 

Nusra said the poor state of the track at Moi Stadium denied her the opportunity to clock below 14 seconds. 

“I am competing against my own time and this track is not just favourable for that. I am targeting 14 and then later 13 (seconds). It is something I am working towards,” she said, adding that she will compete in all the two remaining meetings.

Rono and Kenya Prison's Sammy Rugut went toe-to-toe in the men's 110m hurdles, the former crossing the finish line first in 15.2 seconds. The latter was second in 15.6 while Gilbert Koech (NPS) was third in 16.2.

In women's 100m, some of the notable athletes who qualified for the final slated for Sunday are Mercy Chebet (Kericho), Millicent Nduru, Diana Chebet and Monica Safania of the NPS, Susan Nyambura, Edna Ogendi (Prisons), Joy Akinyi and individual Dorine Waka.

Their male counterparts are Tyson Juma (MMUST) ,KDF's Elijah Mathew and Robinson Motende, individuals Moses Masika, Lewis Dichoe and Charles Nymweya, Reagan Simani (Rongai) and Prison's Hesborn Ochineg.

Men’s 400m final start list will have William Rayian (Police), Emmanuel Mutua (GSU), Wycliffe Kinyarial, David Sayanek (Prisons), Elkana Kiprotich (individual), Kennedy Kimeu Nathaniel Kipng'etich and Brian Kinero.