Top stars shine as Prisons athletics meet ends
Athletics
By
DENNIS OKEYO
| May 08, 2016
Two new records were set, as fast rising Timothy Cheruiyot and All Africa Games gold medalist Alice Aprot triumphed during the final day of Kenya Prisons Service Championship at the Nyayo National Stadium yesterday.
Cheruiyot (3:36.1) representing Rift Valley beat Nyanza’s Mark Bett (03:41.6) to second place and Mathew Kiptanui (3:41.9) to third.
In the women’s 10,000m, Aprot, running for Prisons Headquarters, dominated her opponents from the gun to finish. She lapped everyone in the race including the second-placed finisher Pauline Wangui of North Eastern to win in 31.41.8. Wangui finished a distance second in 33:45.8.
Elsewhere, 2012 Olympic Games bronze winner Thomas Longosiwa and sprinter Maureen Jelegat also produced impressive results in men’s 5000m and women’s 400m finals.
They set up new prisons championship records of 13:30.3 and 52.4 seconds respectively.
The previous record of 13:38.0 in 5000m was held by Timothy Kiptoo while Elizabeth Muthoka had 400m’s record of 52.6 seconds.
Cornelius Kangongo (Eastern) was second in the 5,000m race after cloking 13:46.9 while Peter Emase (Nyanza) finished third in 13:48.8.
Longosiwa (Nairobi) who will race at the Shanghai Diamond League expressed his intention of shifting into marathon in the 2017-2018 season.
“I was testing my endurance here before racing in Shanghai Diamond League and eventually compete during national trials for the Rio Olympics,” he said.