African Games bronze medallist Mary Ekiru emerged victorious in the women’s 1500m during the National Athletics Championships at Ulinzi Sports Complex on Wednesday.
Ekiru clocked 4:08.05 ahead of Caroline Nyaga and Nancy Cherop, who clocked 4:09.07 and 4:12.03 respectively.
“The race was not easy, I had to persevere,” said Ekiru. “My opponents put up a tough fight, especially in the last round.”
Ekiru, who won her speciality at the Kip Keino Classic on April 20, hopes to lower her personal best at the Africa Senior Athletics Championships in Douala, Cameroon on June 21-26.
Ekiru’s ultimate dream is to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games in August. She is yet to hit the qualifying time of 4:02.50. Her personal best of 4:05.96 puts her 40th on the world rankings quota for the Olympics.
Meanwhile, the 2019 world 1500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot seems to have shaken off a lengthy knee injury absence after finishing fourth during the national championships.
The Olympic silver medallist clocked 3:40.23 behind Boaz Kiprugut 3:39.23, Josphat Sang (3:38.74) and race winner Brian Komen (3:37.91).
“The injury took a long toll on me. I was out with injury for nine months,” said the Prisons’ runner. “I thank my management and my coach for helping me in recovery. I am 85 per cent good to go.”
The 28-year-old finished second at the Doha Diamond League on May 10 in a season’s best time of 3:32.67 behind Komen (3:32.43).
“For now, my focus is on the Diamond League and national trials,” Cheruiyot concluded.
