STILL AT THE TOP: Kamworor, Cheruiyot top Police Service Cross Country Championships

From left; Vivian Cheruiyot leads, Hyvin Kiyeng, Linet Masai and Maragret Chelimo during the Kenya Police Service Cross Country Championships for the fourth consecutive year at Ngong Race in Nairobi on Janary 6, 2016. [PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

World Cross Country champion Geoffrey Kamworor stamped his authority as a world-class runner with an impressive show to win the star-studded Kenya Police Service Cross Country Championships for the fourth successive year at Ngong Race, Nairobi, yesterday.

The World half-marathon champion, representing Western, sprinted in the last two laps to shake off the world 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop and former 5,000m Commonwealth champion Augustin Choge to win by close to 200m  in a time of 30:52.7.

Choge and Kiprop, who could not respond to Kamworor’s killer pace, finished second and third clocking 31:30.1 and 31:47.1 respectively in the 10km race.

“It feels good to run here and always win. Now I will be looking forward to the Athletics Kenya National Trials for the 4th edition of Africa Cross Country Championship which will take place on 12th March 2016 in Yaounde, Cameroon,” he said.

 “I’m also looking forward to defending my World Half Marathon title in Cardiff before fully embarking on my preparation for the Olympics where I will compete in 10,000m,” said 23-year-old Kamworor, who was the second runner-up in the SOYA Sports Personality of the Year in the Sportsman of The Year category.

Augustin Choge, who missed out last season due to injury, said he has fully recovered and ready to challenge for a slot in the Kenyan team to the Rio Olympics.

“I had a frustrating 2015 due to injury, but it feels great to be back and run my first race here and finish second. I’m hoping for injury-free season and a slot in the Olympics team,” said Choge who was representing Traffic Police.

In the women’s category, World 10,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot of Directorate of Criminal Investigation shook off a strong field that included the SOYA Sportswoman of The Year Hyvin Kiyeng representing Kenya Police College, Janet Kisa of Nyanza, Linet Masai of General Service Unit and youngster Margaret Chelimo of Kenya Police College to win in a time of 36:29.9 ahead of Chelimo (36:30.1). Kisa finished third (36:34.3), while Masai took fourth position by clocking 36:47.5.

“I was here to represent my DCI team and it wasn’t bad considering that I’m not in good shape. But I will not be running any cross country races, I’m going straight to start preparing for track season, you know this is an Olympic year,” said Cheruiyot.

The event was attended by Joseph Boinet, the Inspector-General of Police, among other top police bosses. Now the focus shifts to Kenya Defense Forces cross country championship on January 22 at Thika Garrison and Kenya Prisons Service cross country championship at Uhuru Gardens on January 23.

Selected results

Men 10km
Geoffrey Kamworor – 30:52.7
Augustin Choge 31:30.1
Asbel Kiprop 31:47.1
Josphat Bett 31:53.1
Johnson Nakari 31:57.5

Women 10km
Vivian Cheruiyot 36:29.9
Margaret Chelimo 36:30.1
Hyvin Kiyeng 36:34.3
Janet Kisa 36:47.5
Linet Masai 36:49.6