Jelimo and Cheruiyot electrify Bukhungu

By Alan Kisia And Joseph Ngure

Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo and world 5,000m silver medallist Vivian Cheruiyot electrified Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega when they featured in the 1, 500m heats.

Jelimo, running for the first time this season, clocked 4:19:3 after out-springing Florence Chepkemboi at the fourth New KCC AK weekend meeting.

But it was Cheruiyot who received a standing ovation after setting a high pace in second heat, clocking fastest time, 4:17:0 to lead the women’s finals scheduled for today.

Jelimo, who is also the Golden Jackpot winner and who ended last season unbeaten, said she is working on her endurance ahead of her first international outing in Czech Republic in June.

"The season is still early and I hope I will be in good shape before the World Championships in Berlin in August," she said.

Cheruiyot, a specialist in 5,000m, said she is working on speed ahead of the Grand Prix meeting in Doha, Qatar, in May.

The duo are expected to fight it out in the final at 9.30am today alongside Chepkemboi and Margaret Wangare.

In men’s 1,500m category, Commonwealth 5,000m champion, Augustine Choge, will have an uphill task against African champion Haron Keitany when finals get underway.

Keitany, who was favoured to win 800m in Nakuru, but failed to turn up, clocked 3:36:1. Other strong contenders in the race are Collins Cheboi, World Youth 3,000 steeplechase champion David Salel and cross country seasonal Sammy Kitwara.