Former Africa cross country junior silver medalist Ronald Kirui and Everline Chirchir yesterday won the inaugural Kirdam Dam 10-kilometre race in Kabarnet town.
The two, who train at Keringet Athletics Club in Nakuru, produced good shows to top the field that featured more than 200 athletes.
Kirui was too good for Moses Koech, eighth-placed at the Kabarak 21km race last month, as he blasted off in the homestretch to victory. They exchanged the lead before Kirui employed an electric pace to win in 33:51.58.
Koech (33:54: 64) and Elisha Kiprotich (34:08.28) from Kaptagat checked in second and third.
In women’s race, Chirchir went neck and neck with Iten-based Alice Chemeli, Nancy Jelagat and Joan Chemeli in the initial stages of the race.
Chirchir stepped onto the gas pedal in the final stretch to win in 39:12.30 ahead of Alice Chemeli (40:04.49) and Chepkemoi (40:29.58).
Quailyne Kiprop from Torongo won the women’s six-kilometre race in 16:32:51, beating Betty Chekemoi (16:32.51) of Nakuru and Josephine Wanjiku (16:56.25) from Torongo to second and third places.
In the men’s six-kilometre race, Gideon Rono raced to victory in 14:07:00 ahead of Felix Kurui (14:18:99) and Kipsambu Kimakar (14:25:46).
Winners in 10km received Sh50,000, runners up Sh45,000 and second runners up Sh30,000. Kirui said he is targetting the 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Denmark. [Kipsang Joseph]
