Kenya: World Junior Championships Upstaged

Jonathan Komen

7 June 2011

Nairobi — Eastern Regional Youth 1,500 metres silver medallist Sheilah Chepng’etich upstaged World Cross Country Championships junior champion Faith Chepng’etich to the four-lap crown during the Triangular Athletics Championships at the Nyayo National Stadium on Tuesday.

The two-day competition that ends on Wednesday is being used to pick Kenya’s team to the seventh IAAF World Youth Championships in Lille, France, from July 6 to 10.

Sheilah, who bagged the regional title in Asmara, Eritrea, last April, upset the global cross country dynamo in the final lap with a fine sprint to victory in four minutes, 14.8 seconds.

Faith (4:19.2) weighed in second as new talents Margaret Chelimo (4:24.6), Dorcas Chepkemoi (4:25.1), Damaris Muthee (4:52.0) and Sharon Anissomok (5:01.5) followed.

The Standard Eight pupil at the Kapsewa Primary School in Kericho now itches for a global glory. “I feel good beating Faith here at home. And I long to beat her in France,” said the 17-year-old Sheilah.

Faith, who displayed her barefoot running trademark, beams with confidence as she prepares for her maiden track outing.

“I won the world Cross Country Championships (in Punta Umbria, Spain) and I must add another one on the track as well,” said the friendly Faith, a Standard Eight schoolgirl at Keringet Township in Kuresoi.

Little-known Norah Cheruto obliterated a quality line-up to carry the 2,000m steeplechase title in 6:25.8, ahead of Lilian Chepng’eno (6:35.7) and Chepkemei Tanui (6:41.2).

Virginia Nyambura (6:42.2), Winny Chepkogei (6:42.8) and Lucy Muthoni (6:52.5) followed in that order.

In the 10,000m, an event not featuring in the World Youth Championships, Clementina Chelagat produced a solid run that tore the field to shreds to stop the timer in 34 minutes and 43.1 seconds as Caroline Nyakawa (35:14.1) and Juliana Nzioka (41:03.1) trailed in 100-metre gap.

Fireworks are also expected in Wednesday’s 3,000m final after world cross country starlet Jepkorir Kipkoech and Gladys Chesir, Kenya’s first Youth Olympics gold medallist, easily qualified to the finals.

Conselsus Kipruto won the 2,000m steeplechase title in five minutes and 29.3 seconds ahead of Gilbert Kirui (5:30.0) and Peter Matheka (5:36.0).

Lived up to its hot billing

The clash between Albert Rop of Nairobi’s Riruta Central and Cyrus Ruto of St Francis Kimuron Secondary School in Keiyo in 5,000m final lived up to its hot billing.

In a battle that went down to the wire, Ruto outsmarted Rop on the homestretch to win in 13:45.3. Rop (13:46.2) settled for second as Peter Rono (15:05.1) and Victor Kimutai (16:16.4) finished third and fourth.

The race is not enlisted at IAAF World Youth Championships and the athletes will have to try their luck in the World Championships national trials due next month.

Vincent Tarus posted 7.15m to emerge long jump winner as Gedion Kipkoech carried the Discus title with a 41.90 throw.

Athletics Kenya will on Wednesday name a 24-member squad to the global youth contest.

AllAfrica – All the Time