Obiri main attraction at KDF races
Kenya’s Hellen Obiri wins the athletics women's 5000m final during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games at the Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast on April 14, 2018. PHOTO | SAEED KHAN |
What you need to know:
- In 2016, Obiri edged out Jepkosgei to second place, but missed the 2015 championships due to a maternity break. It's Veronica Nyaruai who won in 2015, beating Cherono (Kahawa) to second place.
- Cyrus Rutto, who is seeking his third consecutive victory, will highlight men’s 5,000m semi-finals.
World and Commonwealth 5,000 metres champion Hellen Obiri has thrown down the gauntlet at rivals ahead of Wednesday’s final as the Kenya Defence Forces Athletics Championships at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Obiri, who is also the 2016 Rio Olympics 5,000m silver medallist, will be challenged by world half marathon record holder Joyciline Jepskogei and Berlin Marathon champion Gladys Cherono.
Obiri, who will be representing Laikipia Air Base (LAB), has won the last two editions beating Veronica Wanjiru (LAB) and Jepksogei (Marsabit) in that order last year.
“I was a little bit tired after winning the Commonwealth title in April in Gold Coast but I have been recovering slowly,” said Obiri.
In 2016, Obiri edged out Jepkosgei to second place, but missed the 2015 championships due to a maternity break. It's Veronica Nyaruai who won in 2015, beating Cherono (Kahawa) to second place.
Cyrus Rutto, who is seeking his third consecutive victory, will highlight men’s 5,000m semi-finals.
Rutto had finished fourth in 2015 in a race won by the three times KDF 10,000m champion Emmanuel Kipsang, before starting his reign in 2016, when he won race, beating Kipsang to second place, with Stephen Arita and Kipserem coming in third and fourth respectively.
“I have no much pressure tomorrow since I will conserve my energies for the final on Thursday,” said Rutto.
“I have prepared well since my target is to win the Africa title and make it to the World Cup.”
Kenya will use the National Championships due June 21 to 24 to select the team for the Africa Senior Championships planned for August 1 to 5 in Assaba, Delta State in Nigeria.
It’s in Assaba where the African team for the IAAF Continental Cup (World Cup) due September 8 and 9 in Ostrava, Czech will be named.
Peter Mundi (Embakasi) will be under immense pressure to defend his men’s 10,000m title against the 2016 and 2015 champion Emmanuel Kipsang and Leonard Oloitiptip among others.
