Athletics: Mukono triumphs in junior men’s race

BY ERICK OCHIENG’

Leonard Barsoton, yesterday.

African junior 5,000m champion Moses Mukono led Athletics Kenya (AK) Nairobi branch and Riruta Central Secondary School to a clean sweep of the podium in the 8km junior men’s race at the KCB/AK national cross country championships at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi, yesterday.

At the same time, world cross country silver medalist Agnes Chebet Tirop, from Central Rift, won the 6km junior women in style by clocking 19:21.3, the yesterday win also granted her the national jackpot champion.

Tirop was followed by Lillian Kasait from North Rift in 19:35.7 and Nancy Nsiza, representing Southern, in 19:37.7.

Mukono was able to shake off stiff opposition from his team mate and rival Emmanuel Bett to finish the neck breaking race slightly ahead in 23:04.0.

Only two seconds separated the duo at the tape with Bett clocking 23:06.1 to bag second place.

 Little-known Andrew Loret completed podium sweep for Nairobi by bagging third place in 23:16.3.

“The weather gave all of us a conducive atmosphere to participate, but what granted me victory was the endurance I have been undergoing at my base in Ngong township,” said Mukono, who is also the national jackpot winner.

The Form Four candidate at Riruta Central School praised his schoolmate Bett, the Discovery Race champion, saying he not only chased him to victory but was a worthy opponent in the early morning encounter.

“Our branch and school rivalry is paying off. The competition keeps us both in check. Both of us cannot afford to rest on our laurels,” said Mukono.

Mukono, who tasted global contest in Poland last year, finishing 11th place in the world cross country, said his ambition is to look for that elusive gold at the African Cross Country in Uganda next month.

Mukono’s focus is also on the world juniors this May in the US and Commonwealth Games in Glascow, Scotland, in August in the 5000m category.

Concerning his second place finish, Bett, who is in Form Three, said: “I am glad I keep on improving everyday. A time will come when I will also carry the day.”

Continental 10,000m bronze medalist and Bett’s classmate Elvis Cheboi, also from Nairobi, missed out fourth place by two micro seconds. He was edged out by South Rift’s John Langat who posted 23:21.1.

Tirop, who steps up her training in Mosoriot, Uasin Gishu, is hoping to be a force to reckon with in the junior following world champion, Faith Chepngetich’s graduation to the senior ranks. Just like Mukono, Tirop’s focus is in Kampala for the African Cross Country championship, and 5000m in world junior and Commonwealth Games.