OBIRI AIMING HIGH:Olympic silver medallist and Chepkirui targeting places in national team

Hellen Obiri wins the women's 8km during Athletics Kenya 2016/17 cross country series at Posta Grounds, Ngong Road, Nairobi on Nov. 5, 2015[DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD

Rio 2016 Olympics 5,000m silver medalist Hellen Obiri tore her opponents apart to win the second leg of Athletics Kenya 2016/17 cross country series at Posta Grounds, Ngong Road yesterday.

The middle-distance runner timed 34:03.9 to beat another cross country specialist Sheila Chepkirui who clocked 34:27.0 for second place ahead of Machakos-based Nancy Nzisa (34:42.9) in the senior women’s 8km race.

Obiri and Chepkirui are using the cross country series to prepare for the forthcoming 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championship in Kampala, Uganda on March 26.

“It’s only my third week in training since coming from off season. Cross Country is not really my race but I gave it my best. And of cause, Sheila is more experienced runner in this terrain. My target is run at the national trials with aim of making it to the IAAF World Cross Country championship. I know trials will be difficult considering there are many front runners but I will give it best shot,” Obiri said.

In the senior men 10km race, Katui Muia displayed an executed run to win the race in 39:24.9 ahead of former Africa Cross Country silver Andrew Lorot, a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education candidate at Riruta Secondary to second place with a time of 30:26.7. Experienced Stephen Arita of Kenya Defence Forces finished third with a time of 30:30.3.

“I didn’t experience any challenge here today simply because I’m experienced than most competitors today. The main challenge will be securing world cross country ticket and that’s my target, ” said Muia after his victory yesterday.