Championships Wrap: Lasoi Takes 10k Title as Koech Pips Kigen

Isaiah Lasoi beat defending champion Charles Mneria to take the men's 10,000m title at the Kenya Prisons Athletics Championships that kicked off Friday at the Kasarani Stadium.

Lasoi, who was running as a guest athlete clocked 28 minutes, 33.7 seconds to triumph ahead of Mneria of Central who finished second in 28:37.8 while Cornelius Kipruto finished third in 28:54.5

"I am happy to win my first 10,000m race. I have competed previously in cross country races but I had not triumphed in track. I am happy with my performance though I can still improve on my finishing kick. My target is to try and make the team for the World Championships this year, " said Lasoi who trains in Kericho.

On his part, Mneria said he has shifted focus from the track to road races owing to recurring injuries.

"I think it was a good race. I tried my best and finishing second I think is not that bad considering I have been focusing more on the road races. I am happy I have recovered from injury and I am looking forward to a successful season," said Mneria.

In another final of the day, former World Cross Country bronze medallist Lilian Kasait returned from her 10-month suspension to dominate the women's 5,000m race.

Meanwhile at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) championships concluded on Friday with Simon Koech ending Benjamin Kigen’s dominance in the men’s 3000m steeplechase race.

Koech, the 2021 World Under-20 bronze medallist timed 8:28.02 ahead of Kigen who clocked 8:34.41

Prisons and KDF are using the championships to pick their teams for the national athletics championships slated for June 22-24