Athletics: Rhonex wins Discovery race as Soi stars in Kericho

5000M Beijing Olympics bronze medalist Edwin soi cruise to victory during Kericho cross country championship.Soi won 10KM senior men beating a strong field of athletes. Photo by Gilbert Kimutai/standard

Rhonex beats Zakayo to win Eldoret cross country

World U-20 10, 000m champion Rhonex Kipruto and Brilliant Jepkorir were yesterday crowned winners of the 28th edition of the Eldoret Discovery Kenya cross country.

Kipruto faced off with World U20 5,000m champion Edward Zakayo, who finished second in the show at Eldoret Sports Club.

He crossed the finish line in 30:40.3 while Zakayo, his main challenger in the race, clocked 30:46.9 as last year's winner Josphat Kipchirchir was third in 30:50.5.

Kipruto and Zakayo changed leads in the first lap before Zakayo was relegated to third place in the third lap, leaving Kipruto to battle with Kipchirchir.

Zakayo, however, surged forward in the last kilometer, but Kipruto maintained the lead all the way to the finish line.

Kipruto, 19, who in April last year clocked 27:08 to obliterate the previous US all-comers 10km mark of 27:11 set by Sammy Kipketer in New Orleans in 2002, said he is focused on making the national team for the World cross country in Aarhus, Denmark in March.

“My coach did a good job in preparing me for this race. The only challenge was the weather, which was very hot,” Kipruto said.

“My focus is now on the regional cross-country and the national trials for the World event."

Zakayo, a Form Four student at Kapsait Secondary school in Elgeyo Marakwet, said he expected to beat Kipruto in the Eldoret race, but he (Kipruto) proved too strong for him.

“I knew Rhonex was fresh from competing in international races and I was expecting to capitalise on that. I know the national trials will also be tougher because the likes of Geoffrey Kamworor will be taking part, but I will be hoping to do my best,” Zakayo said.

Meanwhile, 5,000m Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Edwin Soi braced hot weather conditions to win men's senior Kericho cross country yesterday.

Soi took charge from gun to tape to easily win the race that attracted more than 50 athletes, who were seeking to bag a slot in the South Rift cross country championships.

Soi clocked 28:10:00 ahead of Kiprono Koech, who timed 28:26:00. Japheth Korir from Sigowet Athletics Club finished third in a time of 28:28:00.

Eliud Mutai clocked 28:33:00 to finish fourth, Kipkemoi Soi was fifth at 28:34:00 and Geoffrey Kipkemoi was timed at 29:33;00 in sixth spot.

Soi said sweltering heat almost took toll on him towards the end of the race.

“Weather was the biggest challenge. The course was more friendly today,” he said.

The track star added that he was using the competition to prepare for a switch to marathon races.

“I will be switching to marathon races." [Stephen Rutto and Gilbert Kimutai]