By Oscar Pilipili

Twice world champion Catherine Ndereba virtually took a walk in the park. Ndereba won the 21km race at the Safaricom Marathon in Lewa on Saturday, timing 1:21:07 ahead of Joyce Kungu and Grace Ndege, who stopped the clock in 1:27:06 and 1:29:52.

In the men’s half-marathon category, Johana Nanyim won the race in 1:07:29 as Joseph Ng’ang’a followed in 1:66:54 and James Kigen third in 1:67:24.

Ben Kapikou retained the full marathon in 2:24:6 with Mark Macharia in second position in 2:25:12 and Githu Kariuki third in 2:26:41.

Full marathon

Catherine Ndereba winning the half-marathon in Safaricom Marathon in Lewa, on Saturday. [PHOTOS: STANDARD CORRESPONDENT AND REUTERS]

Lucy Mugambi won the women’s full marathon in 3:04:37 as Scholar Kiptikou and Ruth Njeri finished second and third in 3:08:22 and 3:38:05

Meanwhile, Olympic bronze medallist Walter Dix crashed out of the world athletics championships when he injured his right hamstring in the 100 metres semi-finals at the US trials on Friday.

"It’s a strained hamstring," said Dix, who won 100 and 200 metres bronze at Beijing, after finishing a non-qualifying sixth in 10.32 seconds in the second semi-final.

He shook his head when asked if he would run the 200 metres at the US trials.

That means the 23-year-old will not make the US world championship team since only the top three finishers in the American trials and defending world champions qualify.

— Additional reporting by Reuters