by Justin Lagat
If Athletics Kenya had called off the men’s 1500m race and decided to use the World Rankings instead to name the team to Budapest, they would have ended up with the same order of names.
Timothy Cheruiyot, who is ranked number two in the world, won the race in a sprint finish that began from the last 200m. He ran 3:34.01 ahead of Abel Kipsang, ranked fifth, and Reynold Cheruiyot, the next-placed Kenyan on the world rankings. Kipsang and Kipkorir Cheruiyot followed each other closely to finish second (3:34.30) and third (3:34.34), respectively.
The second day of Kenya’s national trials for Budapest was full of exhilarating action on the track as global stars amazed the athletic fans in the stadium with their experience. New stars emerged at other distances.
An exciting men’s 5000m race was won by Jacob Krop in a fast time of 13:15.72 at altitude. Ebenyo would come back to run on the second day of the trials and finish second, the same position he had finished in the 10,000m event. He ran 13:16.05 ahead of Cornelius Kemboi, who finished third in 13:17.84.
In the women’s 800m race, Peninah Mutisha took the win in a fast 1:59.55, ahead of Vivian Kiprotich (2:00.30) and Naomi Korir(2:01.87). The exciting and competitive men’s 800m was won by Emmanuel Wanyonyi ahead of Alex Kipngetich in 1:44.09 against 1:44.21. Ferguson Rotich came third in 1:44.71.
Nelly Jepchirchir comfortably won the women’s version of the race in 3:59.77. Brenda Jebet was second in 4:03.00, ahead of Edinah Jebitok in 4:04.57.
The men’s 3,000m steeplechase race saw a new star rising. Simon Koech ran 8:22.55 to win the race by a clear margin ahead of Abraham Kibiwott (8:26.45) and Leonard Bett (8:26.99).
“I want to restore the Kenyan glory in the 3000m steeplechase event at Budapest,” Koech told reporters after the race.
Beatrice Chepkoech easily won the women’s steeplechase race in 9:09.43 ahead of youngsters Jackline Chepkoech, who ran 9:14.56, and Faith Jerotich, who ran 9:25.06.
Irine Kimais ran fast at altitude to win the women’s 10,000m race in 31:52.20. Agnes Ngetich finished in a close second in 31:52.45, and Catherine Relin finished third in 31:54.59.
Boniface Mweresa won the men’s 400m final in 45.42 and will be the only Kenyan in the discipline going to Budapest.
To bring down the curtains of an already exciting day was Ferdinand Omanyala’s performance in the men’s 100m race. He had remained dominant both in the heats and at the final of the 100m, where he ran 9.84 and brought the crowd on their feet.
