Athletics: Kimeli, Jeruto win Discovery X-Country

Nicholas Kimeli and Lydia Jeruto yesterday braved cold and windy conditions to emerge victorious in the 29th edition of the Discovery Kenya Cross Country in Eldoret.

Top finishers in the Cross Country race said they have set their eyes fighting for tickets to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and the African Cross Country championships in Togo in March.

Kimeli, who clocked 29:46.7 led a pack of four runners from the start to the finish line at Eldoret Sports Club.

He was followed by Robert Kiprop and Josphat Kipchirchir who timed 29:59.1 and 30:07.7 who finished second and third.

Kimeli, who was running his first race this season said his challengers failed to keep up with his pace in the last lap.

“The weather was favourable in spite of the wind. I enjoyed the pace from the start and when I saw no one was surging forward, I decided to take the lead and ended up winning,” Kimeli said.

He said he is eying to represent Kenya in the African Cross Country Championships and later seek to represent the country at the Olympics in August.

Cornelius Kemboi easily clinched the title in the junior men’s 8k in 23:46.3, beating Shadrack Kipchirchir (23:05.4) and Emmanuel Kiplagat (24:03.7) who placed second and third.

Kemboi said he was preparing to take part in the 1,500m specialty selection for the 2020 Olympics.

In senior women category, Lydia Jeruto stormed to victory after taking the lead from first lap before sprinting to the finish.

Jeruto said she was using the Discovery Kenya Cross Country competitions to prepare for the African Cross Country Championships.

She cut the tape in 27:16.79 ahead of second-placed Peris Chepchirchir who timed 27:23.20.

The reigning Eldoret City marathon champion Valary Aiyabei clocked 27:30.84 for third.

“I didn’t expect to win the race but I had prepared well for it well. This was part of my preparation for the African Cross country,” Jeruto said.

United States’ marathoner Sally Kipyego, who finished fifth said the race was part of her training as she prepares to represent the US at the Olympics.

“I was going on with my training (in Iten) and I decided to come and compete as part of my training,” Kipyego said.

In the junior women race, Agnes Chebet of Kimwogo Secondary school and Winny Kimutai, both from Elgeyo Marakwet County went neck and neck, but a sprint in the last 200m gave Chebet the crown.[Stephen Rutto]

Selected results

10k senior men

Nicholas Kimeli                    29:46.7

Robert Kiprop                    29:59.1

Josphat Kipchirchir            30:07.7

8k senior women

Lydia Jeruto                         27:16.79

Peris Chepchirchir              27:23.20

Valary Aiyabei                     27:30.84