Little-known Mwangi upstages Mwangangi in Prisons contest

By Jonathan Komen

Former world half marathon bronze medallist John Mwangangi could not take the heat and finished fifth in the men’s 10,000m race in the Kenya Prisons Athletics Championships yesterday at Safaricom Stadium Kasarani.

Mwangangi, the 2011 Africa cross-country champion who represents Rift Valley, helped his teammates to win the team title in 28:52.02.

The athlete, who comes from Machakos, said: “The race was too tactical. But I will rectify a few mistakes before the national trials. I will now focus only on making the team to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (Scotland) in July. Thereafter, I can decide on other races,” said Mwangangi.

Fireworks are expected in today’s men’s 5,000m showdown where Olympic 5,000 bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa, Africa 5,000m bronze medallist Timothy Kiptoo and 2006 Commonwealth Games sensation Jonathan Komen go head to head in the 12-lap race.

Eliud Mwangi, the Athletics Kenya (AK) series winner in Kisii and Mumias meets and who runs for Prisons Staff and Training College (PSTC) won the 10,000m race in 28:46.01 ahead of Charles Cheruiyot (28:46.03) and Nairobi’s Josephat Kiprop (28:46.06).

The 2010 Africa 400m hurdles bronze medallist Maureen Chelagat of Prisons Headquarters won her speciality race in 59.03 as former national triathlon champion and Africa 400m hurdles silver medallist Florence Wasike of PST) settled for second spot in 60.01.

 Anastacia Kanini completed the podium finish in 66.09.

Wasike, who has thrice been crowned the Prisons’ Most Valuable Athlete, played second fiddle again as she wound up second in the women’s 100m hurdles in 14.08 behind the winner, Nairobi’s Caroline Waiganjo (14.05).

In the men’s 110m hurdles, Nairobi’s Samuel Korir carried the title in 15.06 ahead of Eastern’s Dennis Kimeu (15.06) as Geoffrey Mabwi, another Nairobian, and clocked 15.08 to settle for bronze.

East Africa discus and javelin champion Cecilia Kiplagat of Nyanza managed a hurl of 37.87m to retain the discus title and also improve on the 37.66m she posted last year.

Eastern’s Everline Bosibori settled for the runner up slot in 34.73, just as she did last year when she hurled 35.86.

Nyanza’s Jacqueline Nyongesa managed a fourth finish in the women’s discus to manage a throw of 11.58m and secure the shotput title, with Central’s Jane Kiptoo (11.55m) being placed ahead of the third-placed Jane Wanja of PSTC (10.48m).

Reuben Bett, third at the AK meet in Mumias, is expected to blaze the trails today in the 800m as Hosea Cheronyei and Hosea Chirchir compete in the 1,500m.

Commonwealth Games sensation Vincent Kosgei will light up the 400m race.