Aprot proves her class with polished victory at Ndalat Gaa

Aprot proves her class with polished victory at Ndalat Gaa

Olympics fourth finisher and African women 10000m gold medallist Alice Aprot showed her class romping to victory in the senior 10km race as unheralded Abraham Kiptum took the honours in the corresponding men’s event during the eighth Ndalat Gaa Cross Country on Saturday.

Aprot clocked 27:24.5 for the crown edging out last year’s European Champions Club Cup Cross Country winner Irene Cheptai who came second in 27:46.4 as former Olympic 3000m champion Gladys Chesir sealed the podium in 28:16.7.

Aprot stayed in the leading pack of four athletes that included Cheptai, Chesir and Sheilah Chemwetich until the 4km mark.

At the 6K Aprot and Cheptai were calling the shots running shoulder-by-shoulder but the winner who also won gold at the All-Africa Games in Congo unleashed the afterburners and out-sprinted her rival for the victory.

Aprot who has represented Kenya thrice in cross country said her preparation for the next year’s World Cross in Kampala was taking shape.

“Today’s victory came as a surprise since I had not trained. However I am optimistic of representing Kenya in Kampala,” she added.

Aprot first represented Kenya at the 2010 World Cross Country in Poland and finishing ninth before settling for fourth at the Africa Cross in South Africa as a junior athlete.

Her first medal at the event came during last year’s Africa Cross in Kampala where she got bronze in the senior category.

Sheilah Chemwetich finished fourth in 28:25.6 while Africa Cross Country Champion Sheilah Chepkirui clocked 28:31.6 to round the top five.

In the senior men 10km category, little-known Abraham Kiptum obliterated a strong field to emerge the winner.

Kiptum who is under the Run Czech Racing programme stopped the timer in 30:48.9 beating Josphat Tanui  to second in 30:59.4, as Bernard Kipkemoi settled third in  31:05.8.

Elisha Kipchirchir (31:10.09) and Emmanuel Bor (31:15.07) followed in that order.

“By next year I will be in form for the World Cross. It is my dream to run for Kenya,” Kiptum said.

Edwin Ng’etich won the 8km junior men in 24:48.3 while Sandra Chebet secured the victory in 20:34.1

Tags:

athletics Abraham Kiptum Ndalat Gaa Cross Country Alice Aprot Kampala 2017 IAAF World Cross

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories