Kathui Muya excels in Nairobi cross country

Not even the burden of Fourth Form examinations could weigh him down as 18-year-old Kathui Muya made his mark to win the first leg of the National Cross Country series at Posta Grounds in Nairobi yesterday.

The Fourth Former weathered the pressure of his pending examinations and the challenge of seasoned athletes and pulled away with a kilometre to the finish line to leave John Elimlim and Frankline Ngelel behind and cut the tape after just 32:35.

Muiya said his success was down to his coach Peter Muteti‘s tactics after he asked him to tag behind the lead group and time his run in the final kilometre.

He now has his eyes fixed on making the Kenya team to the IAAF World Cross-country championships in China.

“The race was challenging and I had to go by what my coach told me. To stay behind as I calculate how to attack in the finishing stages. I am happy with first senior level and now I target world cross-country,” he said.

Elimlim of Balam Club in Nyahururu came second with a time of 32:58 ahead of Ngelel 33:06.

World Junior bronze medalist in 1,500m Sheila Chepngetich was in her own class chocking a strong field of athletes including Africa silver medalist in cross-country Nancy Nzisa and Beatrice Mutai to cross the finish line in 24:08.

The 19-year-old student of Lolich Secondary dominated the race with little threats from Nzisa, who settled for third position in 24:39 behind Miriam Muthoni of Mfae Club in Nyahururu (24:29).

Davis Kiplagat was the star attraction in men’s junior challenge event cutting the tape in a time of 21:20. Kiplagat beat Julius Tanki (21:25) and Dominic Tarus (21:29).

Jackline Chepkoech won junior women’s race by timing 18:23 ahead of Betty Chepkemoi (18:25) and Victoria Mwikali (18:28).

Barnabas Korir, the chair of the Nairobi county Athletics Kenya branch said he was pleased with this year’s turn-out and performance.

As concerns the doping scandal that is almost tainting the image of the sport the country, Korir said stakeholders in athletics need to take the matter head-on like the United States and Jamaica did if they are to salvage the sport.

He said Athletics Kenya (AK) Nairobi branch officials have to senstitise their athletes by giving out information on the same and the agents who are suspected or have already found guilty must face the law.

“I am happy with this time event, its was better to last year,“ he said, and added that the doping issue is still hot and cannot be ignored. „It is tainting our reputation as Kenyan athletes and all stakeholders to face it head on. As Nairobi AK branch we have done our part.“