Kiprop, Mwangi win Central Cross Country

Athletes take part in the men's senior 10 km race during Central Region Cross Country Championships held at Kerugoya stadium in Kirinyaga County on January 08, 2022. 

Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • A four-man pack broke away in the second lap led by Nyandarua County’s hot favourite David Shung’ea of Chima camp, Nyahururu-based Michael Kamau, Francis Abong and Kiprop
  • Second-placed Michael Kamau from Nyandarua termed the course as tough and admitted the speed was too high
  • In the women's category, Japan-based Rebecca Mwangi's strategy was to surge forward and control the race from the front which worked well

Nyahururu-based Emmanuel Kiprop and Rebecca Mwangi endured a hot morning and strong opposition to emerge winners in 10km race during the Central region Cross Country Championships held at Kerugoya stadium in Kirinyaga County on Saturday.

The 21-year-old Kiprop, who trains with Nyahururu-based Esmi club, upset the Nyandarua team after he stopped them from taking all the top positions in the competition.

A four-man pack broke away in the second lap led by Nyandarua County’s hot favourite David Shung’ea of Chima camp, Nyahururu-based Michael Kamau, Francis Abong and Kiprop.

It's Shung’ea who did most of the pacing for the rest but was cautious not to run out of fuel at an early stage of the race and fall out of the team.

“The pace was high and the opposition was tough. I knew I would make it to the team but I did not expect to win,” said Kiprop.

He added, “By the third lap I had started giving up because the pace was too high but I hung on. I am happy that I will represent the Central region in the team. My hope is to make it to the national team.”

The youngster produced a brilliant kick to post an impressive time of 29:59.2 and emerge the regional champion.

The budding 5,000m runner disclosed that he has been hoping between Sweden, France and Portugal doing track events adding that he is preparing for more overseas competitions this year.

Second-placed Michael Kamau from Nyandarua termed the course as tough and admitted the speed was too high.

Having posted similar performance at the county level, Kamau expressed confidence of doing better at the national level to join the team for the global championship.

For Shung’ea, he blamed his lack of finishing power to the fact that he had just received his Covid-19 jab three days ago.

Kamau posted 30:05.9 as Shung’ea and Abong returned 30:10.05 and 30:27.5 respectively.

In the women's category, Japan-based Rebecca Mwangi's strategy was to surge forward and control the race from the front which worked well.

Excitement was written all over her face after posting 34:48.1 despite this being her first time to run in the senior category having trained for only seven days.

“This being my first time in the senior category, I had to run my own way. If we ran as a pack, they could have defeated me in the final kick because they are seasoned and very good at this. I knew my opponents well because we train together,” said Mwangi.

World Under-20 3,000m gold medalist Teresia Muthoni finished second.

“I had not done enough training since I had some family commitments I was attending to last week. I have trained less than 10 days but I hope to put in more time now in training,” said Muthoni.

Regional AK chairman David Miano said he was happy with the performance of the athletes. He however decried the poor status of the Kerugoya stadium as he blamed the county sports department for neglecting the facility.

“The main role of AK is to develop talents and mobilise them to competitions with an expectation that the facilities are tenable. Our dismay is that quite a number of stadiums are not okay including this one,” said Miano.

He disclosed that the officials had a hard time preparing for the regional event due to the status of the stadium.

He called upon county governments to commit to maintaining stadiums in the region.

Selected results 

10km senior women

1. Rebecca Mwangi Nyandarua   34:48.01

2. Teresia Muthoni  Nyandarua   35:51.07

3. Mary Nyaruai Nyandarua 36:10.01

4. Evelyne Maraba Nyandarua 36:26.07

5. Jecinta Nyokabi Nyandarua 36:30.05

6. Hellen Ekarare Nyeri 36:45.1

7. Yvonne Chipchirchir Nyandarua 37:43.00

8. Emily Chepkemoi Kiambu 38:40.04

9. Loise Wambui Kiambu 40:43.07

10. Julia Njari Kiambu 41:45.00

10km men

1. Emmanuel Kiprop Individual  29:59.02

2. Michael Kamau Nyandarua 30:05.09

3. David Shung'ea Nyandarua 30:10.05

4. Francis Abong Nyeri 30:27.5

5. Peter Kamau Nyandarua 30:44.08

6. Alex Kipchirchir Nyandarua 30:59.9

7. Stanley Njihia Nyandarua 31:14.08

8. Cosmus Mwangi Nyandarua 31:22.00

9. David Nakinyi Nyeri 31:44.9

10. Isaac Mukundi Murang'a 31:56.06

Under 20 6Km Junior women

1. Lucy Nduta Nyeri 21:00.5

2. Margaret Karari Nyandarua 21:11.03

3. Janet Chepkoech Nyeri 21:27.7

4. Purity Murugi Nyandarua 22:10.08

5. Marion Muthoni Nyandarua 22:18.05

6. Gladys Biwott Nyeri 22:56.04

7. Emily Wairimu Nyandarua 23:01.06

8. Teresia Wachera Nyeri 23:11.02

9. Beatrice Kanyiva Kirinyaga 23:43.03

10. Joy Mumbi Kirinyaga 23.51.00

Under 20 8km Junior Men

1. Samuel Kibathi Nyandarua 23:48.2

2. Richard Etir Nyandarua 23:51.00

3. Stephen Lemayan Nyandarua 24:07.07

4. Victor Kimosop Nyandarua 24:18.01

5. Peter Kamau Kiambu 24:18.8

6. Joseph Njoroge Nyandarua 24:31.6

7. Joseph Mwangi  Nyandarua 24:45.8

8. Manela Michael Individual 24:55.8

9. Stephen Mwangi Nyeri 25:05.1

10. Peter Mirichu Nyeri 25:06.9

Under 18 6km men

1. Duncan Maina Nyandarua 17:53.4

2. Nicholas Kipchumba Nyandarua 17:57.9

3. Eliud Kahiga Nyandarua 18:11.02

4. Anthony Pareiyo Nyandarua 18:40.9

5. Linus Ndiritu Nyandarua 18:43.02

6. Jackson Maina Nyandarua 18:43.2

7. William Kimosop Nyeri 18:55.0

8. Samuel Macharia Nyandarua 19:02.4          

9. Isaac Maina Nyeri 19:11.07

10. Joseph Njoroge Nyeri 19:25.8

Under 18 5km women

1. Margaret Ngoiri Nyandarua 17:42.7

2. Anne Njeri Kiambu 17:48.4

3. Anne Naiperia Kiambu 17:51.00

4. Ruth Mwihaki Kiambu 17:51.04

5. Rosemary Long'isa Nyandarua 17:55.3

6.Daisy Cherop Nyandarua 18:03.04

7. Monica Njeri Kiambu 18:16.8

8. Faith Chepkoech Nyeri 18:39.4

9. Sarah Wanjiru Nyeri 19:05.02

10. Mary Akai Nyandarua 19:22.08