Too, Wanjiru shine at Nairobi meet

Josephat Too leads Victor Kipkorir during the 10000m finals. [Standard Digital]

Josephat Too held off a spirited challenge from his training mate Victor Kipkorir over a thrilling last lap to win the men’s 10,000m final at the opening day of Athletics Kenya (AK) Nairobi Track and Field meeting at Kasarani Stadium yesterday. 

The two men ran side by side for much of the race with Too running on the inside, never letting Kipkorir sprint past by and in the end, he pulled away over the final lap to win the race in 28:41.0 with Kipkorir settling for second place in 28:42.3. 

Alfred Kimani was third in 29:04.4 with Paul Selien coming home in fourth place in 28:12.6. Julius Tanui was fifth in 29:22.6. 

“The weather was great making it easy for me to win the race. I’m actually using the meetings to build on my preparation as I wait for World Under-20 trials in May this year.

"I want to try hard and make the team for the World Under-20 Championships,” said Too who is based at Silibwet Club in Bomet County under the guidance of John Kimetto. 

On his part, Kipkorir said he was using the AK meetings to get good times in an effort to get invites to races abroad this season. 

“I came to the meeting to build on my speed endurance in order to get races abroad this year,” said Kipkorir. 

In the other final of the opening day, steeplechase specialist Mercy Wanjiru over powered World Under-18 800m silver medalist Lydia Jeruto to win the women’s 5,000m finals. 

Wanjiru, a silver medalist in 3,000m steeplechase at the 2019 African Games in Morocco won the race in 15:59.8.

Jeruto who won this year's Discovery Cross Country in Eldoret clocked 16:00.6 with newcomer Margaret Nduta closing the podium finish in 16:04.9. 

Mercy Wanjuri wins the women's 5000m final ahead of Lydia Jeruto during the Athletics Kenya Track and Field meet at Kasarani Staium. [Standard Digital]

“My target for the season is to represent Kenya at the African Championships in Algeria and Olympics Games. I decided to race in the longer event to gain more endurance, but at the trials I will compete in 3,000m steeplechase,” said Wanjiru of Kenya Defence Force. 

Jeruto who took a huge jump from 800m to 5,000m says she enjoys running longer distances and promised good performance in the coming seasons.

“Since switching events, 800m to longer distances, I have been enjoying the results and I can see myself getting even better results. Being an Olympic year, my target is to work hard and ensure I get myself Tokyo Games ticket,” said the Baringo-based Jeruto.

The championship ends today before taking a two-week break and resuming with the meet in Embu on March 22-23 with final leg being held in Kisumu on April 4-5.