Mwangangi tops race in Mount Elgon

By Mutwiri Mutuota

John Mwangangi, winner of the first KCB/AK National Cross Country Series meeting in Machakos, foiled the dreams of local runner, Levy Matebo, as he powered to victory in the senior men’s 12km race at the sixth round in Mount Elgon.

Matebo (36:59), who was among the runners who wanted to ditch Kenya for Bahrain ahead of the 2007 Africa Junior Championships, was outclassed by Mwangangi who clocked 36:36 for victory.

World 3,000m steeplechase silver winner, Richard Mateelong also made it into the podium. He ran in 37:08 in his first outing since his stellar performance in Berlin where he was beaten to gold by Ezekiel Kemboi.

AK held the first ever meet in Mount Elgon as tribute to the prowess of the runners from the region who have won a cache of medals at international level.

Junior Race

Patrick Koech (37:23) was fourth ahead of Benjamin Kiplagat (37:32) while Abraham Yano (37:50) was sixth. Prisons star Thomas Longosiwa was a distant 12.

At the same time, Nelly Chebet, the world Youth 5,000m champion was imperious in the junior 6km race, breasting the tape in 20:34. Chebet, who was in Kenya’s team for last year’s Amman World Cross, beat Alice Aprot, the winner in the Kisii to second. Aprot, sister of former world junior 5,000m silver medallist Joseph Ebuya, ran 20.45 with Esther Chemutai (20:56) filling the rostrum.

In the senior women 8km race, Gladys Chepngeno won her second straight KCB/AK Cross Series following her triumph in Kisii after stopping the timer in 27:43 to move ahead in the race for the Sh250,000 jackpot. Jane Mwikali was second in 28:27 topping Ruth Masebo who claimed third in 28:31.

Home runners ruled the men’s 8km junior race, with Simon Cheprot charging from gun to tape to clinch the race in 23:40. David Maru (23:49) led the challengers home with John Chepkwony third in 23:53. Eric Ndiema settled for fourth position in 23:55 ahead of Keneth Kimutai 24:16 and Keneth Kibet 24:19.

After the Kapsokwony race, the focus turns to the last leg in Eldoret next week before the athletes head for Nairobi for the national championship and trials with winners assured of a slot in the Kenya team to the World Cross Country in Bydgoszcz, Poland, on March 28.