Chepkemoi and Maiyo win Iten 10km run

By JOSEPH NGURE

Dubai marathon champion Diana Chepkemoi and Rotterdam second finisher Jonathan Maiyo shooke off stiff opposition to win this year’s Iten 10Kilometres run in new records.

Chepkemoi, 23, stunned race favourite Rose Kipyego when she hit the tape first in a photofinish to pocket the Sh20,000 offered by race sponsors Safaricom.

Kipyego, a seasoned cross-country runner since her high school days at Kapkenda girls, jumped into the front at the flag and control the race from the start but lost to Chepkemoi at the tape.

The winner, who trains with one-4-one camp at Kaptagat under Barcelona Olympic silver medallist Patrick Sang, timed 34:58.8, while Kipyego, who trains under Joseph Cheromei in Iten, clocked 34:59.0.

Chepkemoi bettered the previous 35:02.2 to lead 88 female runners on the windy uphill course that was run on Eldoret-Iten road.

"The pace was too high for me at the beginning. I was fighting for number two but I felt strong in the last 200 metres after entering the field. I am ready for any race that my manager will find for me," said the winner, who comes from Narok but trains at Kaptagat.

Three weeks ago, Chepkemoi won the third edition of Rift Valley Technical Training Institute 10km after finishing second in this year’s Berlin 25km.

Emmy Biwott, an elder sister to Kipyego, timed 35:30.0 to finish third with Ester Chemutai, Cynthia Limo and Winny Chepkemoi checking in fourth, fifth and sixth in 36:01.6, 36:07.9 and 36:11.8 respectively.

In the men’s category, Maiyo beat 410 competitors to win the climbing course in a new record of 30:14.8 after pulling away from the leading pack at the Iten Police Headquarters as the runners descended the last hill. The old mark was 30:18.6.

"I was using the race to test my speed. I am preparing for some few road races in the US and I feel I am ready. This victory has encouraged me," said the champion who finished second in Rotterdam with 2:14.53 Personal Best.

Nathan Naibei, Robert Kipkorir and Edwin Kiptoo followed in that order clocking 30:24.6, 30:27.6 and 30:31.2 with Justus Mogere, John Mutai, Charles Kimeli and veteran Enock Mitei closing the prize list in 30:33.7, 30:36.9, 30:38.7 and 30:46.1 respectively.

The race, preceded by a 5km fun run, started near Chembulet shopping Centre in Eldoret East to Iten.

World 3,000 metres record holder Daniel Komen, also Keiyo District AK Chairman, 1999 Seville World Champion Christopher ‘Jogoo’ Kosgei and New York marathon champion Edna Kiplagat were among the high profile athletes who officiated in the event.