Kipngeno, Kanda toast to victories at Mountain Running Championships

Patrick Kipngéno of Nakuru County clocked 50:37.05 minutes to win the men’s 10km race at the Mountain Running Championship held Sunday in the counties of Naivasha and Nyandarua while Titus Kimutai of Elgeyo Marakwet finished second in a time of 51:09.00 as Michael Kamau of Nyandarua came out third in 51:43.08.

The inaugural event started at Longonot Naivasha ending at Kenton Kinangop in Nyandarua County.

In 8km senior women category, the first three positions went to Elgeyo Marakwet trio of Francisca Kanda, Beatrice Cheserek and Judith Korir, who clocked 48:11.05, 48:41.00 and 49:20.06 respectively.

In the 8km junior men race Emmanuel Maru of Iten Training Camp clocked 37:19.02 to bag the honours, followed by Matthew Rutto of Nakuru in 38:13.03 while Henry Mwangi wa Nyandarua finished third in 39:01.08.

Emmanuel Maru who won the 10km race in the junior men category said such kind of events should be held on a frequent basis as it helps Kenyan athletes prepare for international road races.

Meanwhile Paul Kipsiele Koech who won bronze medal in 2004 Olympics in 3,000m steeplechase and who has since retired took part in the event but says he has no plans of returning to the track and merely participated to keep fit.

Also in attendance was AK President Jackson Tuwei, who has maintained that the event will now be incorporated in the AK calendar and it will be held in the counties noting that a number of counties had made applications to host the upcoming events.

Tuwei has also challenged Kenyan athletes to maintain high standards of discipline, asking them to emulate past athletes who won clean.

His remarks come in the backdrop of many athletes being slapped with bans – for either doping offences or Whereabouts Failure.

The latest to fall into this category is former 1,500 metres champion Elijah Manangói.

Tags:

Athletics Kenya Beatrice Cheserek Francisca Kanda Judith Korir Mountain Running Championship Patrick Kipng’eno

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