Memorial Agnes Tirop Tour: Chirchir, Chepkirui crowned junior champions
What you need to know:
- Chirchir overtook Rono inside the last lap to win men’s under-20 8km race in 23 minutes and 55 seconds during the race at the Lobo Village, Eldoret on Saturday
- Rono came in second in 24:02 as Dennis Kirui clocked 24:10 to settle third with the National Cross Country Under-20 champion Benson Kiplangat, who is also the World Under-20 5,000m champion, having dropped out with a kilometre to the bell
- Chepkirui, who finished second at the Lotto National Cross Country Championships at the same course on January 22, edged out Lucy Nduta to second place in 21:09 as the national champion Faith Cherotich settled third in 21:18
Shadrack Chirchir and World Under-20 1,500m champion Purity Chepkirui are the men and women’s Under-20 champions of the Memorial Agnes Tirop World Cross Country Gold Tour.
Chirchir overtook Gideon Rono inside the last lap to win men’s Under-20 8km race in 23 minutes and 55 seconds during the race at the Lobo Village, Eldoret on Saturday.
Rono came in second in 24:02 as Dennis Kirui clocked 24:10 to settle third with the National Cross Country Under-20 champion Benson Kiplangat, who is also the World Under-20 5,000m champion, having dropped out with a kilometre to the bell.
It’s Rono, who led Chirchir through the bell after Kiplangat’s withdrawal before the winner showed Rono a clean pair of heels.
Chepkirui made amends for her failure at nationals to win women’s Under-20 6km title in 20:49.
Chepkirui, who finished second at the Lotto National Cross Country Championships at the same course on January 22, edged out Lucy Nduta to second place in 21:09 as the national champion Faith Cherotich settled third in 21:18.
“The race was tough but I managed to surge ahead and be in a safe distance especially at the muddy section. This is a good motivation after I finished second at the nationals,” said Chepkirui, who is a form one student at Tiloa Secondary School. “I want to work on my speed ahead of the world title defence in August this year.”