by Justin Lagat
Two siblings; Norah Jeruto and Daisy Jepkemei dominated an exciting senior women’s race at the Eldoret Sports Club grounds in Eldoret.
Led by Jeruto, the two runners would break away early in the race after the 2013 world cross country champion; Irene Cheptai, had been sandwiched momentarily between them in the early stages of the race before being dropped behind as the race progressed.
In a spectacular show of front running, Jeruto would prove that she is not only senior to her sibling in age but also in her running prowess and experience as she opened a huge margin of over 200m at the front before winning the 10K race in 33:29.6. Her sister came in for second place in 34:04.5 as Dorcas Jepchirchir came from behind to overtake Cheptai and take third place in 34:21.8 ahead of Cheptai’s 34:38.8.
In the men’s senior race, Daniel Simiu waited until the last one and half laps of the race before showing the rest of his competitors that he was a sub 27 minute 10K runner. The toughened runner who in his early childhood would trek 24km across battle-fields in one of the cattle rustling prone areas in Kenya to attend primary school, easily began to create a gap and left the rest of the leading pack in a single file behind him.
Simiu stopped his watch at 30:14.0 to take the title ahead of Kelvin Kibiwott in 30:35.9 and Edward Cheserek in 30:38.1.
Pamela Kosgei who came into the lime-light after winning the U18 race at the Kenyan national championships last week impressed even more after winning a competitive field to emerge victorious in the 6km junior women’s race. She clocked 21:17.9. Edinah Chepkemoi was second in 21:22 and Sharon Jepngetich was third in 21:24.6.
Ismael Kirui won the junior men’s 8km title in 24:32.3 ahead of Felix Korir in 24:34.5 and Brian Kiplimo in 24:48.7.
