Kenya: Ondoro Beats Wanjiru to Win Rvtti 10km Race

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Stanley Magut

19 July 2011

STOCKHOLM Marathon runner-up Pius Ondoro won the Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI) 10km race staged over the weekend in Eldoret. Ondoro out sprinted the region’s upcoming runners to win in an impressive time of 29:26 minutes. Peter Wanjiru, who won the Poland Warsaw half marathon last March, finished second place in 29:31 minutes. Silas Limo of Keiyo finished third in 29:42. Robert Chemosil (29.44), Emmanuel Ndiwa (29:58), Henry Rotich (30:15) and Paul Chirchir (31:17) followed in that order.

Ondoro broke away from the second leading pack of seven athletes after the 5km mark and joined Wanjiru and Limo who were in command as at the 7km mark. Ondoro then took full control of the race with Wanjiru breathing heavily on his back. But with 10km to go, Ondoro unleashed a powerful kick to leave hapless Wanjiru gasping for air. Ondoro said the race was tough but noted that his strong point was to study Wanjiru’s style of running. “I conserved my energy for the final kick and I knew I would floor Wanjiru,” Ondoro said, adding he was using the event as a build-up for the upcoming Finland Marathon next month.

In the women’s category, Diana Chepkemoi, last year’s Marlse 20km champion in France, won the race in 33:29 minutes. Swedish marathoner Isabela Anderson who led the pack to the 9km mark placed fifth. Cynthia Limo came second in 34:35, and was followed by Cynthia Kosgei in 34:41. Silvia Chepchirchir (34:43) and Isabela Anderson of Sweden closed the top five finishers in 34.44 minutes. Chepkemoi, who trains at Kaptagat, said the course was very hard but she fought hard to win the race. The Swedish runner was delighted with her performance and said all she wanted was to gauge her speed ahead of World Championships in Daegu.

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