by Justin Lagat
Noah Kibet, starting the 400m, April 5, 2022, photo by Justin Lagat
This piece is from Justin Lagat on the county championships at Kip Keino Stadium. Noah Kibet was among the fine athletes competing in the county championships. Noah competed in the men’s 100m and 400m. As many will recall, Noah Kibet took the bronze medal in the Men’s 800m World Indoors, becoming the youngest, at 17, to medal, EVER in the world indoors.
As the road to the Eugene 2022 began in several counties here in Kenya, it happened to have been on a Tuesday here in Eldoret, a day that most of the runners often do their track intervals. Some decided to participate in the competitions as part of their speed work, while others would be using the championships as their first stage that would be followed by the regions and finally the nationals/trials for the World championships.
Fresh from running 1:07:10 for the half marathon at the Lille half marathon on the 20th of last month, Purity Komen chose to do her speed workouts today in the women’s 1500m and 800m finishing 1st and 2nd respectively in both events.
Women’s 1,500m lead by Purity Komen, April 5, 2022, photo by Justin Lagat
It was also an opportunity for coaches to watch out for some new and promising stars and perhaps get to recruit them into their management.
Patrick Sang, watched closely as the men’s 5000m event was underway and pointed out a tall guy who was slowly but surely moving towards the front after beginning the race behind everyone else in the first laps of the event.
“I like the way this guy is running. He is a promising 10,000m runner,” Sang pointed out at the young runner, Hillary Kemboi as he kept overtaking other runners to eventually finish 3rd at the end of the race that was won by Timothy Katam in 13:57.31. Just after the race, Sang called Laban Rotich, who apparently supports the runner outside their global camp, to tell him the good news that the young runner has just proved to be a runner to watch in the near future.
The next stop is expected to be on the 19th of April in Kapsabet during the Central Rift championships that will include Uasin Gishu, Nandi, and Baringo counties.
