By Mutwiri Mutuota
After a year of ‘mechanical failure’, the Big Engine, Moses ‘Engine Kubwa’ Mosop roared back to life in style.
Mosop, the 2007 World Cross silver medallist, announced his return to the big stage with a breathtaking victory over a world-class field in the senior men 12km race at the IAAF Permit/KCB National Cross-Country Championships/Trials at the Ngong Racecourse, on Saturday.
Mosop, who missed most of last season with injury made short work of a line-up that was fit enough to qualify as a global event in 38:16.0 after zooming away from 2007 World Cross junior bronze winner, Matthew Kisorio for the emphatic victory.
ME FIRST: Athletes jostle for pole position at the start of the 8km senior women race at Ngong Racecourse, on Saturday. |
"I am now aiming to go a step forward than Mombasa and take gold in Amman. Today’s race was fine and after the second lap where everyone was challenging, I felt that I was in a good position to win," Mosop explained.
In his debut as a senior, Kisorio who had shadowed the winner until Mosop turbo-charged to the tape in the last kilometre, gained due reward for his persistent running by clocking 38:37.2 for second place.
"Last year I was disappointed for not winning junior gold in Edinburgh.
This time, I will give my best to get a good reward in Amman," Kisorio, whose father Some Muge won bronze in the senior race at the 1983 World Cross in Gateshead England, told reporters.
"I am proud to have followed my dad’s footsteps and my aim is to perform better than he did," Kisorio, the sixth finisher in Edinburgh in his last season as a junior disclosed.
Armed Forces athlete Mark Kiptoo (38:39.2), captained the national team last year at the Edinburgh World Cross where he finished 14th held on for third with upcoming talent, Linus Chumba (38:48.7) dipping in fourth for the last automatic place for Amman.
Classic race
Selectors gave Edinburgh senior 12km silver winner, Leonard Komon (20th, 39:47.7) and 2006 World Cross junior champion, Mangata Ndiwa (sixth, 38:52.2) the wildcards for the March 28 Amman event.
As expected, the classic long race delivered all the fireworks where dreams of a constellation of world beaters bit the dust at Ngong.
Winner Florence Kiplagat finishes ahead of Iness Chenonge. Photos: Stafford Ondego |
Olympic 1,500m medallist, Asbel Kiprop and Qatari steeplechase world record holder, Saif Saeed Shaheen did the early running.
Besides them Mosop, Kisorio, Olympic 5,000m bronze winner, Edwin Soi and last year’s fifth finisher in Edinburgh, Moses Masai, Ndiwa, Chumba and Armed Forces team mate William Chebon were in hot pursuit.
Kiprop led the runners past the 4km mark before he and Shaheen dropped out a kilometre later.
Kisorio hit the front 4km later as the leading pack thinned closely shadowed by Mosop with Kiptoo and Komon who had made ground behind.
At the bell, Kisorio and Mosop were neck and neck before the winner deployed the afterburners. Komon who looked a firm bet for fourth suddenly dropped allowing Chebon (fifth, 38:49.2) and Chumba to glide past before the latter nicked ahead with 200m to clinch the last automatic place for Amman.
Soi, Eliud Kipchoge (Olympics 5,000m silver), Isaac Songok (African 5,000m silver), Masai and Gideon Ngatuny (defending champion) were some of the biggest casualties of the Ngong Racecourse showpiece rumble.
