Kenya: Lisoreng Shines

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Muigai Kiguru

15 June 2011

Former Standard Chartered Nairobi International Marathon champion Pamela Lisoreng put up a great fight to oust Edna Kimaiyo in the women’s 5,000m race at the Administration Police Inter-Provincial Sports Championships at the Nyayo Stadium yesterday. Lisoreng, who was running as a guest athlete, clocked 17:10.04 ahead of Kimaiyo of APTC ‘A’, who returned 17:32.05.

Purity Changwony of APTC ‘B’ finished fourth in 17:58.03 and was submerged between guest runners Jane Chelangat and Beatrice Kosgey timed at 17:52.05 and 18:16.08 respectively.

The race hit off the gun with a slow pace with a seven-runners leading pack forming after one lap. Chelangat then took a three meters lead in the second and was at this moment that the pace went up with Kosgey, Lisoreng and Kimaiyo joining the fray. Chelangat later faded off to give way to the quadruple.

The four ran shoulder to shoulder until the fifth lap when Lisoreng and Kimaiyo broke off to lead the proceedings inside the sixth lap. Lisoreng then stepped on the accelerator to take 40m gap and went all the way to clinch the race despite a spirited attempt by Kimaiyo on the home stretch.

In the men’s 10,000m final, Africa Cross Country Championships bronze medallist Henry Chirchir of APTC “A’ reigned supreme to win the race in 28:46.7 ahead of compatriot Kipkoech Yego, who was timed at 29:07.0.

David Tarus of APTC “B” placed third after clocking 29:20.5 while Rapid Deployment Unit’s Kennedy Melly finished fourth in 29:23.5 ahead of Mukundi Mwangi of APTC A who returned 29:31.5. Peter Kiplagat of Western province won the long jump event after covering 6.78m while Hesbon Korir of APTC B jumped 6.34m for second place.

George Muchiri of RDU took third in 6.33m ahead of Richard Cherop of Eastern who covered 6.30m distance. APTC “A” won the darts event with 10 points ahead of RDU who amassed eight.

AllAfrica – All the Time