Peter Toroitich from Pokot beat triple Deaflympics champion and world 5,000m record holder Simon Cherono to win the 4th edition of the Deaf Half Marathon held at the Meru National Polytechnic yesterday.
Toroitich clocked 1:11:02 edging out Cherono, who timed 1:11:24 for second as Daniel Kiptum sealed the podium finish in an impressive time of 1:12:18.
Toroitich, who was the bronze holder heading to Meru was well poised to take the bragging rights as he stayed in the leading pack that had Cherono, Kiptum, David Njeru and Martin Gachie into the first quarter of the race.
Torotich took the lead shortly but Cherono overtook him at the 10km mark. However, a determined Toroitich kept tabs and eventually regained his lead and created a distance over the champion, who came back into contention heading into the final stages of the race.
But it was Toroitich who had the finishing kick, out-sprinting his rival to arrive first at the finishing line.
Toroitich
said: “Today’s race was very important for me and I believe for the rest of the athletes too since it will help us in preparing for the national Deaflympic trials scheduled for later this month. I have hope that I will be selected in the team.”
Juster Kwamesa romped to victory in the women’s edition after clocking 1:46:33, followed by Timiria Barasa (1:98:22) and Deonida Okiago (2:02:17).
Lucas Wanjiru won the men’s 10km category while Naibin Mushitoi won in the women’s version.
Half marathon medallists were awarded Sh70,000, Ksh.60,000 and Ksh.55,000 respectively while the podium finishers in the 10km race bagged Sh30,000, Sh20,000 and Sh10,000 respectively in cash prizes.