Aprot, Kitur win as Cheruiyot returns to action during Tuskys race

Alice Aprot (front) leads other athletes before winning the 8 kilometer senior women during Tuskeys Wareng Cross Country race held at Huruma grounds in Eldoret yesterday. Former world 10000 champion Vivian Cheruiyot (left) finished in forth position. 23.11.2014. Pictures By Peter Ochieng

Former world junior 5,000m bronze medalist Alice Aprot and 2014 5,000m runner Commonwealth Joseph Kiplimo Kitur yesterday won their respective senior races at the eighth edition of Tuskys Wareng cross-country championships held at Huruma grounds in Eldoret.

Reigning 5,000m world junior silver medalist Linah Cheruto and little-known Nichodemus Kurui shone in the junior races in men and women's categories respectively in the race that saw double world champion Vivian Cheruiyot return to action.

Aprot, who lost the 10km Kass Marathon last Sunday to Commonwealth champion Flomena Cheyech and former world silver medalist Sylvia Kibet, fought against Athletics Kenya jackpot competitor Irene Jebet, Vivian Cheruiyot and former Commonwealth Youth 1,500m gold winner Stacy Ndiwa who failed to defend her title.

Iten-based Aprot, who has set her focus on IAAF world cross country championships in Guiyang China, added her name in the cross country meetings after she shook off 258 other runners to win the senior  women's crown.

Aprot, who is the younger sister to Joseph Ebuya, stormed into the lead from 5km after staying in the leading park with Ndiwa, Jebet and Cheruiyot until the final 2km when she remained with Jebet to beat but with 200m to the tape, she sprung away from Jebet to and left to victory 26:57:8 ahead of Jebet (27:07:8) and last year winner winner Ndiwa, who sealed the podium at 27:15:1.
Former Olympics silver medalist Cheruiyot, on first comeback, finished fourth after she picked an ankle injury on the last lap, checking in at 27:21:8 while Purity Chemisong (27:27:3) came fifth.

 "The race was not easy considering the big names present. I did not know that I was going to win since my right leg was aching. I want to try my best to make the team to the world cross in China. I need a medal in world cross-country after finishing third in Confederation of Africa Championships," said Aprot.

After finishing fourth at the Commonwealth games in Glasgow, Scotland and Continental championships in Marakech, Morocco, Kitur claimed the men's senior race. 

Kitur beat his closest rivals Alex Kibet and Geoffrey Ngetich as he produced a devastating kick to victory, stopping the timer at 36:32:8. Kibet came in second in 36:36:2 followed by Ngetich (36:41:1). 
Another cross-country runner Lukas Rotich (36:50.1) checked in fourth, as Emmanuel Kipchorchir wound up in fifth in 36:52:1.

Kitur, a 5,000m specialist said: "I got an ankle injury in 2011 but winning this race is a plus in my running career."  

In the junior races, Nichodemus Kurui and Linah Cheruto won. Kurui breezed to the tape in 24:21:1, beating a strong field of 253 runners as Cheruto (21:01:6) beat other 210 athletes.