Wilson Kiprop in super finish at Prisons National Athletics Championships

Wilson Kiprop (left) leads Charles Cheruiyot and John Mwangangi to the men’s 5,000m finish line during Kenya Prisons National Championships at Nyayo National Stadium, on Thursday.  [PHOTO: MARTIN MUKANGU/STANDARD]

By JONATHAN KOMEN

Former Africa 10,000m champion Wilson Kiprop beat a quality field to win his specialty at the Kenya Prisons National Athletics Championships at Nyayo National Stadium.

Commonwealth Games 400m runner Maureen Chelagat and former World Youth 1,500m champion Nelly Chebet easily qualified for today’s one-lap race women’s finals.

Kiprop, who dropped out of the 10,000m Olympic Games final following a career threatening knee injury which he picked after winning the World Half Marathon Championships in 2011, stayed ahead of the leading pack of 12 runners from the gun.

He dominated the lead even as his close challengers Charles Cheruiyot, former Africa cross-country champion John Mwangangi and Emmanuel Bor kept in close check.

The Eldoret-based runner led upto the eighth lap, where Mwangangi surged forward to take the lead before charging back at mid-point.

 Kiprop, 25, re-enacted his Africa championship front run strategy with two laps left as he stepped up the pace.

The hard-fighting runner then approached the bell with a super finish as he punched his one-finger salute trade mark into the air, crossing the finish line in 28 minutes and 18.5 seconds.

Cheruiyot (28:19.2) of Nyanza, Mwangangi (28:44.8) and Emmanuel Bor (28:47.8) came second, third and fourth respectively as Daniel Muindi (28:55.1), Abel Rop (29:11.1) and Philemon Cheboi (29:14.1) followed.

Tough race

Kiprop, who trains in Iten, said: “The race was quite tough given the high calibre of runners. I had to calculate well to beat Mwangangi and that’s why I decided to test Mwangangi with an early kick. I am back to track to prepare for national trails after a poor show in marathon.”

But Mwangangi said he knew well that Kiprop was in top form. “I knew the guy (Kiprop) was in shape. I tried to break away but he could not allow me. We will now meet at the national trials,” said Mwangangi, who trains in Machakos.

Rookie Cheruiyot was proud to have picked some  experience from Kiprop and Mwangangi.

Former Africa cross-country champion Timothy Kiptoo won 5,000m qualifying rounds in 13:54.1, outsmarting John Murithi (14:58.7), Meshack Letim (14:02.6) and Benjamin Kigen of North Eastern (14:06.17).

Olympic 5,000m bronze medalist Thomas Longosiwa beat a classy line up to wear the men’s 1,500m race heat one crown in 3:42.4, ahead of Wilfred Kemei (3:42.3) and Kenneth Cheruiyot (3:42.8) as Kibet Barng’etuny (3:42.4) and Joseph Mathwentei (3:44.4) trailed.

Newcomer Francis Kiplagat carried heat two title in 3:45.0, beating Hosea Chirchir (3:45.3), Elijah Kipchichir (3:46.0), Titus Tanui (3:47.0) and Anthony Murithi (3:52.0).

In the women’s battle, Maureen Chelagat ran a blistering 55.4 seconds to lock up her rivals in 400m heats.

Chelagat, who was in the London Olympics squad, will fight it out with Caroline Chelagat (62.3) and Lydia Wafula in today’s finals.

Former World Youth 1,500m champion Nelly Chebet (60.8), Damaris Imbongo (56.6), Fridah Gacheri (58.9), Egla Nalianya (57.9) and Diana Muchwenche (58.1) are other athletes to watch.