Having learnt from the best, Rift runners shine in athletics

Athletes compete in the boys 10,000m category on the third day of the Kenya Secondary Schools Term Two A games at the Mbaraki Sports Club, June 08, 2017. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD]

The IAAF World Under-18 championships are about one month away and athletes are fighting to acquire the qualifying times.

With the national trials set for next week in Nairobi, the battle has been unrelenting. Athletes in the national secondary schools Term Two A athletics championships used their respective races to gauge their final preparedness ahead of the trials.

As expected, athletes from Rift Valley were on top of their game as they relegated their competitors to chasing packs.

In boys 3,000m, six top runners hit the entry mark after Michael Kibet and Maxon Kipngetich, both from Rift Valley, grabbed the first two positions.

Kibet was timed at 8:10.6, while Kipngetich clocked 8:13.1. The qualifying time is 8:42.00. Dalmas Ndiema (Western), Duncan Salaton (Nairobi), Brain Kirui (Western) and Nairobi’s Philip Rono also met the entry times.

In boys 10,000m, Rhonex Kipruto from Kimwogo School in Rift Valley won in a time of 29:24.01.

while Jackson Muema of Kivandini School (Eastern) was second in 30:00.0.

Kennedy Ekesa of Namaindi School from Western was third with a time of 30.30.06.

In boys 10,000m walk, Dominic Samson from Nyanza was victorious in a time of 47.31.0 with Bungoma’s Jimmy Oroni finishing second in 47:44.0.

Eric Mitei from Kisiara School, in Rift Valley, was third in 50:24.9.

In girls 5,000m, Dolphine Omare of Omobera School in Nyanza clocked 16:22.3 for the top spot, while schoolmate Lucy Mokire was second in 16.28.1.

Margaret Kasike of Baari School from Central was third (16.55.4.)