By Mutwiri Mutuota
Former World Youth champion over 1,500m (2007), Fredrick Musyoki, announced his arrival to senior ranks with a bang after edging out veteran Shadrack Kosgei for the men’s senior 12km title at the fourth KCB/AK Cross Country Series in Embu.
In the women’s senior 8km race, Naomi Chepngetich who was runner-up in the second meeting in Kericho, broke the tape ahead of all to cement her claim for the Sh250,000 series jackpot in her category.
In the absence of Mercy Cherono, who breezed to victory in the Kericho and Nairobi legs of the seven meeting series, Esther Chemutai outclassed the field in the junior women 6km category ahead of Faith Chepngetich who was second in Kericho.
Newcomer Isaiah Koech silenced Caleb Mwangangi who registered victory in the opening meet in Machakos in the men’s 8km junior category.
In the men’s long race, Musyoki and Kosgei who won in Nairobi a fortnight ago separated from the field with the youngster outlasting the veteran of the 2000 World Cross in the close battle for the finish in 32:46.
Kosgei (32:47) was a second further back and he will be gratified with earning more points towards the Sh250,000 pay-off in the men’s senior race. Boniface Mbuvi (33:06) was a further third.
Chepngetich broke away from Machakos winner and Edinburgh World Cross team member, Monica Wangari (25:06) to breast the tape in 24:47.
The pair remain leading jackpot contenders in the women’s 8km while Joyce Wanjiku (25:10) settled for third.
With Cherono taking a break, Chemutai ruled the roost in the women’s 6km junior race, stopping the timer in 18:46 ahead of Chepngetich who clocked 19:07 with Lucia Muia, the prodigious junior track runner settling for third in 19:80.
In the men’s junior 8km, Mwangangi (21:25) had no answer to the searing finishing power deployed by Koech who forced him to accept runner-up in 21:24.
The cross-country was moved from Methodist University’s ground in Meru to Embu due to what officials said was due to logistical sensibilities.
