Incredible Kamworor bags seventh Police X-Country title

World Cross Country bronze medalist Geoffrey Kamworor won a record 7th title at the Kenya Police Service Cross Country Championship held Saturday at the Ngong Race Course.

From the onset it became a three-horse race as Kamworor was locked in tough tussle with last years first runners up Josphat Boit and Hosea Kimosop.

It was Boit who led for the larger part of the 10km race before Kamworor took the lead in the last lap enroute to bagging his seventh win in 30:04.3 with Boit retaining his second spot in 30:04.9 as Kimosop came home third in 30:25.6

The reigning world half marathon record holder attributed his dominance at the championship to proper training.

“Winning seven titles is not easy. It is actually through hard work that I have managed to rule this championship. Although this year’s competition came much earlier it is key for me in that it gives me adequate preparations ahead of the busy season,” said Kamworor.

Kamworor will now lead the Police team at this year’s National Championships that will also double as the trials for the Africa Cross country championships to be held in Togo in March 1.

With Olympic medal his major focus this year, Kamworor hinted at giving the continental championship a wide berth as he seeks his maiden Olympic gold.

“For sure I am only lacking an Olympic medal in my cabinet and therefore my target this year is to try and bring home the medal in Tokyo,” he said.

Despite finishing second for the second year in a row, Boit was content with his performance as he now eyes a slot in Kenyan team for the Africa Championships.

“I am actually happy with my performance today because I did well to control the race. Of course losing to Kamworor is not the worst result because we all knows how good he is. I will try and see if I can make the national team at the trials because I would love to represent my country,” said Boit.

Kericho-based Jackline Cherotich stunned defending champion Margaret Chelimo to win the corresponding women’s race in 35:00.0 as Stacy Ndiwa placed second in 35:11.6 while Chelimo ranked third in 35:14.0.

Cherotich surged forward at the 2km mark leading Chelimo as Ndiwa trailed the duo, and with 4km to go Cherotich had opened unassailable lead of 300m while Ndiwa, the 2018 champion, overtook a tiring Chelimo to seal the second spot.

After chalking her first win Cherotich is now eyeing more success both in cross country and track.

“Last year I finished fifth and thus I came here today to try my best to win and that is why I went for the lead earlier in the race. I will now shift my focus to the national championship then the Olympic Games,” said Cherotich.

Selected results

10km men

1 Geoffrey Kamworor 30:04.3

2 Josphat Boit 30:04.9

3 Hosea Kimosop 30:25.6

4 Emmanuel Bett 30:45.5

5 Philemon Rono 30:50.54

5 Kenneth Cheserek 30:52.6

10km women

1 Jackline Cherotich 35:00.0

2 Stacy Ndiwa 35:11.6

3 Margaret Chelimo 35:14.0

4 Lilian Chebii 35:45.2

5 Caroline Nyaga 35:50.2

6 Mercy Cherono 36:08.3