Ruth Kutol leads winner Edith Masai and Catherine Ndereba in the 10,000m of Kenya Prisons Championships (© Peter Njenga)
Nairobi, KenyaThe performances of Kenya’s top women distance runners dominated the Kenya Prisons Inter- provincial Championships with Edith Masai and Selina Kosgei winning in contrasting styles on the final day of competition at the Nyayo National Stadium in down town Nairobi on Sunday (3).
Masai triumphs...Ndereba worried about too many races
On a sunny day, Masai, a three-times World cross country short course champion, denied four-times Boston marathon winner Catherine Ndereba victory in the 10,000m metres in the most thrilling race of the day. Ndereba, the 2003 World Marathon champion had finished third in the 5000m on Saturday which was won by Kosgei who added the 1500m today.
Masai, Ndereba and Ruth Kutol entertained fans throughout the 10,000m race after shrugging off five other runners after only three laps. Each one of them led at one time or another which saw them keep close contact in what was good viewing for the spectators.
Masai was the first to seriously test the waters when taking the lead after five laps. But Kutol was to relieve her of this position dictating the pace until the 10th lap when Ndereba injected some pace until the 16th after which Masai took over.
Again Ndereba took to the front and stayed in front until the 23rd lap. Masai levelled again with Ndereba and went past her at the bell and won in 33:44.8 followed by Ndereba in 33:50.5 and Kutol, 33:55.8.
Immediately after the race Ndereba announced that she had withdrawn from the New York Mini 10k on 9 June to avoid burning out. “After the last one week of competition, my body is telling me to go slowly,” said Ndereba who won the Ottawa marathon 10k recently in Canada.
“I also realise that I have run so many 10ks to run. So going to New York would have meant leaving on Tuesday yet I have to return in Nairobi for the national championships on 14 June.”
“Ideally, I am preparing for the marathon in Osaka and so I don’t want to mess up my training programme,” said Ndereba.
Double for Kosgei
The 2002 Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion, Kosgei registered her second win of the two day championships, out-sprinting Caroline Kwambai from the 200m mark to clock 4:25.5 in the 1500m. Kwambai clocked 4:26.1. They had finished in this order in the 5000m on Saturday.
Surprise 5000m win for Koskei
The 5000m men’s race produced a pleasing result for little known Peter Koskei who decided to break away from the lead pack after only three laps. His opponents included the winner of the 10,000m Lucas Kibet.
Koskei ran alone throughout, enjoying a 100m buffer zone to finally clock 13:42.6. Kibet came home in a distant second in 14:09.8.
Peter Njenga (Daily Nation) for the IAAF
Leading Results
Men
100m
1: Thomas Musembi, N/E, 10.5
2: Stephen Baraza, Central, 10.6
3: Wellington Nyakundi, Nbi, 10.8
200m
1: Thomas Musembi, N/E, 21.3
2: Stephen Baraza, Central, 21.4
3: 3: Wellington Nyakundi, Nbi, 21.6
400m
1: Thomas Musembi, N/E, 45.9
2: Selesio Njiru, Pstc, 46.4
3: Albert Koech, Cent, 47.9
800m
1: Edwin Kiprop, Cent, 1:48.5
2: Reuben Bett, Pstc, 1:48.7
3: Moses Kibet, Rvp, 1:48.9
1500m
1:Elijah Boit, Guest, 3:43.5
2: Julius Serem, Guest, 3:44.3
3: Musa Kipchirchir, Guest, 3:45.3
5000m
1: Peter Koskei, Coast, 13:42.6
2: Lukas Kibet, Nbi, 14:09.8
3: Edward Koech, Nbi, 14:11.1
10000m
1: Luke Kibet, Nbi, 28:45.3
2: Joseph Birech, Guest, 28:51.2
3: Henry Maiyo, Rvp, 29:03.7
3000m steeplechase
1: Patrick Langat, Rvp, 8:46.8
2: Stephen Chase, Pstc, 8:47.1
3: Daniel Kamau, Cent, 8:48.2
Women
100m
1: Elizabeth Muthoka, Coast, 12.0
2: Zipporah Ratemo, West, 12.2
3: Florence Wasike, East, 12.4
200m
1: Elizabeth Muthoka, Coast, 24.1
2: Zipporah Ratemo, West, 24.9
3: Damaris Mbula, Nep, 25.3
400m
1: Elizabeth Muthoka, Coast, 52.9
2: Zipporah Ratemo, West, 54.3
3: Florence Wasike, East, 55.8
800m
1: Lydia Wafula, Rvp, 2:08.2
2: Anne Mwanzi, East, 2:10.4
3: Jane Mwikali, Cent, 2:11.6
1500m
1: Selina Kosgei, West, 4:25.5
2: Caroline Kwambai, Nbi, 4:26.1
3: Jane Mwikali, Cent, 4:28.2
5000m
1: Selina Kosgei, West, 16:20.6
2: Caroline Kwambai, Nbi, 16:23.2
3: Catherine Ndereba, West, 16:27.0
10000m
1: Edith Masai, Nep, 33:44.8
2: Catherine Ndereba, West, 33:50.5
3: Ruth Kutol, Nbi, 33:55.8
3000m steeplechase
1: Jane Murage, Nyanza, 10:09.4
2: Caroline Kalunde, Guest, 11:18.6
3: Grace Misati, Nbi, 11:34.6
