Champion Changeiwo faces Chepkurui in 10,000m finals at Kasarani

By Chris Musumba
World Military Games 10,000m champion Doris Changeiwo will renew her rivalry against veteran Lineth Chepkurui in the only final event on the first day of the Kenya Defence Forces Athletics Championships, at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

The duo are eager to secure Kenyan ticket to the Olympics and have been in training since January. However, it is more crucial for Chepkurui as she will be keen to showcase her full recovery from an ankle injury that has ruled her out of competition for over nine months.

“Chepkurui will be running. Changweiwo is also in the lineup. But there are other big stars to look out for,” said head coach Julius Kirwa.
In the men races, former World cross country senior men 12km champion Joseph Ebuya remains a doubt to compete. But Kirwa said that Vincent Kiprop, John Korir and William Chebon will be some of the star in the battle for the 10,000m ticket to the national championships.

Surprise performance
Hellen Obiri of Laikipia Air Base was the surprise package in the last year’s championships when she stunned Olympic 1,500m champion Nancy Lagat to win the four lap race.

She went on to cement her name as one of the new talents off the production line when she reached the finals of the World championships in Daegu in spite of having been tripped with a lap to go. She redeemed herself when she emerged from the fringes to clinch the World Indoor title over the 3,000m distance in Istanbul Turkey in March.

“I can confirm that Obiri will be running. But for Lagat, I have no news. She has been having difficulties with an injury and we have to wait and see if at all she has shaken it off,” said Kirwa.
Bad injury

Lagat, aggravated her knee injury in 2010 when she doubled up in 800m and 1,500m race to win double gold at the Commonwealth games in New Delhi. But she has been struggling to make a comeback and today may just be the answer.
Another Laikipia runner Alice Waithera will be there to give Obiri the challenge in the four lap race so will be Perin Nengapi of Moi Air Base and Thika’s Gladys Chepng’eno.

In the men 1, 500m, Africa Athletics Championships 800m bronze medallist Jackson Kivuva, Embakasi’s Bernard Kaptingei  and Steve Raswey of Kahawa will be rolling up their sleeves for a showdown. Others to watch out for will be Gideon Gathimba, Nicholas Meli  and Daudi Makala of Mtongwe.

Thika’s David Limo, the Defence Forces men’s discus champion (48.97m) will put his title on the line as he faces challenge from Richard Metet of Laikipia Air Base and Willy Kesio.

In 2011, the Kenya Defence record of 14.25 seconds was set in the 110m hurdles men by Ammon Chepsongol of Kahawa Garrison who clocked 14.15 while Caroline Cherotich of Nanyuki broke the previous national pole vault record of 3.00m.