Youngsters spring surprises in Eldoret

Upsets are common place in Eldoret, Kenya's leading Athletics town, and there were many on Saturday (10 May) during Athletics Kenya’s fifth weekend meeting, when 19 year-old IAAF World Youth 1500 metres champion Isaac Songok beat Commonwealth Games 3000m Steeplechase champion Stephen Cherono.

Songok, a form two student at St. Patrick's High School in Iten, Kenya’s leading nursery of athletics, beat Cherono, himself only 20 years of age, in the 1500m race after clocking 3:40.0, against 3:40.1. Further back in the field World Half Marathon champion Paul Kosgei finished eighth. Hillary Chenonge was third in 3:42.4.

Cherono’s elder brother Abraham was pushed to third place in the 10,000m, won by Francis Kipkoech (29:17.3) and Hosea Macharinyang (30:07.0).

However, not too much should be read into the defeats of these better known Kenyans, as they have taken up unfamiliar distances to build on their speed or endurance ahead of the summer’s invitational races in Europe.

Little known Mary Njeri won the women's 1500m race in 4:26.7 ahead of  the established names of Beatrice Jepchumba and World Junior champion Viola Kibiwott, who were timed at 4:27.5 and 4:28.4 respectively. Paris Marathon champion Beatrice Omwanza was a distant sixth.

The two day meeting attracted athletes from Uganda and Zimbabwe, and was affected by the current rains being experienced in Kenya.

Peter Njenga for the IAAF

800m
1. Joseph Mutua 1:47.4 2. Joel Marwa 1:48.9 3. Michael Rotich 1:49.6. 4. Nahashon Rutto 1:50.0 5. Elijah Kiprono 1:50.3. 6. Edwin Leting 1:50.6. 7. Linus Ndhiwa 1:51.0 8. Willy Rotich 1:51.0.

1500m
1. Isaac Songok 3:40.0 2. Stephen Cherono 3:40.1 3. Hillary Chenonge 3:42.4. 4. Timothy Kiptanui 3;44.2. 5. Joseph Kemboi 3:45.3. 6. Samson Kiplagat 3:46.6. 7. Shadrack Korir 3:47.2. 8. Paul Kosgei 3:54.3.

5000m
1. Francis Kiprop 14:07.8. 2. Peter Lotakor 14:11.6. 3. Gideon Mitei 14:14.5. 4. Nelson Birgen 14:17.0. 5. Andrew Limo 14:18.1. 6. Philip Biwott 14:19.2. 7. Paul Langat 14:19.7. 8. Hillary Kipchumba 14:25.8.

3000m steeplechase
1. Linus Chumba 8:57.7. 2. Nathan Naibei 8:58.6. 3. Paul Sisiton 9;10.1. 4. Elijah Lagat 9:11.7. 5. James Cheptuiyon 9:12.5. 6. Ronal Kipchumba 9:14.0. 7. Joel Chelimo 9:12.8. 8. James Manyur 9:13.0.

10,000m
1. Francis Kipkoech 29:17.3. 2. Hosea Macharinyang 30:07.4. 3. Abraham Cherono 30:04.1. 4. Duncan Kibet 30:06.0. 5. Nicholas Mureithi 30:06.1. 6. Philemon Kipsang 30:07.5. 7. Edwin Koech 30:10.6. 8. Wilson Kipkemei 30:23.8.

Women

100m
1. Hellen Jemutai 11.7. 2. Bayigga Justine (Uganda) 12.2. 3. Priscila Asiayo 12.4. 

200m.
1. Caroline Awour 24.6. 2. Hellen Jemutai 24.9. 3. Priscila Asiayo 25.3. 4. Bayigga Justine (Uganda) 25.6. 5. Rael Jepchumba 30.5.
400m
1. Josephine Nyarunda 55.3. 2. Priscila Asiayo 56.2. 3. Caroline Awour 57.6. 4. Debie King (Australia) 58.3. 5. Nancy Kiprono 64.6. 6. Ndenya Mutua 69.1. 7. Margaret Wanjiku 70.8.

800m
1. Nakintu Margaret (Uganda) 2:12.4. 2. Colleta Jepchirchir 2:13.2. 3. Gladys Kwambai 2:13.2. 4. Jematia Chemaringo 2:15.0. 5. Mary Nthenya 2:15.2. 6. Sharon Tavengwa (Zimbabwe) 2:16.0. 7. Joyce Jelagat 2:19.6.

1500m
1. Mary Njeri 4:26.7. 2. Beatrice Jepchumba 4:27.5. 3. Viola Kibiwott 4:28.4. 4. Pamela Kipchoge 4:31.0. 5. Susan Muthoni 4:37.1. 6. Beatrice Omwanza 4:40.3. 7. Rosemary Mbenya 4:44.8. 8. Lydia Kurgat 4:48.1.

5000m
1. Fridah Domongole 16:20.6. 2. Gladys Chemweno 16:22.5. 3. Alphena Losoreng 16:35.8. 4. Pauline Konkwany 16:36.7. 5. Paskalia Jepkorir 16:53.5. 6. Sharon Kipsang 17:16.2. 7. Irene Birgen 17:17.1. 8. Joyce Musungu 17:20.5.

10,000m
1. Rahab Ndungu 35:08.0. 2. Winfreda Kwamboka 36:13.0. 3. Mariah Busienei 37:41.3. 4. Margaret Mwenda 37:55.4. 5. Caroline Serem 37:59.0. 6. Sambela Mukera 37:59.6. 7. Rebby Jerono 38:34.1. 8. Ruth Chebii 38:43.1.

2,000m Steeplechase
1. Eunice Jepkorir 6:47.6. 2. Loise Kiptoo 7:07.6. 3. Salome Jepchumba 7:10.5. 4. Jelagat Kigen 7:12.7. 5. Sally Langat 7:19.3. 6. Charity Kiprono 7:27.3. 7. Mary Kwambai 7:29.6. 8. Jackline Chirchir 7:30.0.