Athletics: Kipsang edges out Mutai in senior men’s race

By GILBERT KOECH

Former World Cross Country Junior champion Geoffrey Kipsang yesterday displayed a terrific sprint run to successfully defend his title at the 22 edition of the Kenya Police cross-country championships at Ngong Race Course Nairobi.

Kipsang had an easy time pacing in the sunny weather and grassy course after breaking from the lead pack in the second lap. He employed his usual tactic of leading from the front with the Berlin and New York marathon champion Geoffrey Mutai trailing him.

However, Mutai, was not to have his day as Kipsang stood his ground to run to the tape stopping the clock at just  36:45.7.

Born in Kapkorio village in Uasin Gishu County, Kipsang who paced the former world marathon record holder Patrick Makau to  break it in Berlin in 2011 said he was now keen on taking part in the Tokyo Marathon this April and later the World Half Marathon.

The Africa Cross-country championship in Kampala is also in Kipsang’s diary and this will include the Discovery Cross-Country in Eldoret where he is hoping to successfully defend his title he won last year.

“I have plans to run in Tokyo and World marathon half and also hoping to be part of the team to Kampala.

“The Discovery cross country is another event I’m going to defend my title. However, I have no plans to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in August. It is not in my plans,” said Kipsang.

Mutai had to step on the acceleration pad at the homestretch as he was hotly pursued  by 2006 Commonwealth Games 5,000m winner Augustine Choge before he narrowly edged him out for the second place in 37:25.0.

On his coming plans, Mutai indicated that he is keen to bag the Jackpot of the coming season in the World Marathon Majors series.

 Choge another athletic master had to be satisfied with the third position on his comeback to the cross country clocking  37:25.3. former World Junior 10,000m champion Josephat Bett was placed fourth.

“My focus is to run at the Africa Cross Country Championships in Kampala. It has been a while since I last represented the country in any serious competition,” he added.

Nixson Chepseba and former World Junior 5,000m champion Isaiah Kiplagat were some of the top guns who finish outside the 10th position.