Beatrice Chepkoech breezed to victory in the women’s 3000m steeplechase as the Kenya Police athletics Championships entered second day at Nyayo Stadium.
Chepkoech led from gun to tape, clocking 9 minutes 50.6 seconds with Abigael Chelagat a distant second in 10:16.6. Ann Gathoni took the third place in 10:20.4.
Chepkoech, who had competed in the 1,500m on Tuesday, surged to the front from the start and never looked in trouble as she ran on her own with Chelagat and Gathoni failing to keep up with pace with her in the opening three laps.
With no one to challenge her, Chepkoech increased the tempo of the race at the start of the fourth lap with Chelagat and Gathoni involved in a battle for second place. By the start of the fifth lap, gap between Chepkoech and her trailers had grown to 40-metres, a lead she maintained until the end of the race.
Chepkoech was delighted with the win and said she relished the challenge of competing with world champion Hyvin Kiyeng come the national trials next month. “The trials will be hard but I am ready to compete against Kiyeng and the rest to gauge my strength as I seek to get a ticket for the
World Championships in London,” she noted.
Chepkoech participated in the Shanghai Diamond League meeting last weekend where she set a personal best time of 9:01 minutes. Her next event will be at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, USA at the end of the month. “I’m looking forward to Eugene and if all goes well, I will win that race,” added Chepkoech.
World 1,500m silver medallist, Elijah Manangoi won his 800m semi-final heat. Manangoi clocked 1:48.1, narrowly edging out Job Kinyor who posted 1:48.4 into second place with Timothy Sein third in 1:48.9. Manangoi said he dropped from his 1,500m speciality to 800m in a bid to improve on his speed ahead of next mopnth’s trials.
“I am in good shape and I want to improve my speed and I thought by running the 800m, it will be good for me,” he added.
Manangoi said he wants to inspire his younger brother George Manangoi, who qualified for the final of the 1,500m race by posting 3:45.7 to finish third in his heat.
Abednego Chesebe topped the 1,500m heats by clocking 3:43.1 with Dominic Mutuku coming home second in 3:43.8 and Bernard Kipkorir finishing third in 3:44.4 same as Josphat Kithii.
Ishmael Kombich topped the second heat by posting 3:45.0 with Collins Cheboi coming home second in 3:45.5. Timothy Katam (3:46.2) and Aaron Langat (3:46.5) placed fourth and fifth respectively.
Diana Chebet romped to victory in the women’s 100m by clocking 16.0 with Jentrix Nelima second in 16.4 and Ruth Kemunto third in 18.4. Kiprono Koskei clinched the 100m hurdles final by posting 14.3 seconds ahead of Kipkorir Rotich (14.5) and Gilbert Koech (15.3 secs). Ruth Njoroge clinched the 10km walk after posting 52:06.2 ahead of Jacinta Nthenya (55:07.0) and Esther Wairimu (67:21.7). Carlos Kimaiyo won the men’s category by posting 46:35.1 with Charles Mugambi second in 47:22.1 and Paul Kiprono third in 47:28.5.