By Gilbert Wandera and Rebecca Gichana

New York Marathon champion Geoffrey Mutai stole the limelight on the first day of Kenya Police Championships at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

Mutai, who is the Africa 10,000m bronze medallist won the 25-lap race clocking 28:23.0. In second position was Mathew Kisorio, who finished in a time of 28:23.1 in a closely contested affair.

His younger brother Nicholas Togom finished in third position in 28:27.7.

After the disappointment of failing to make the Kenyan marathon team for the Olympic games, Mutai said it felt great winning on home soil and described the race as having been challenging.

“I have a number of races lined-up after this and this includes a 10km and a half marathon as I prepare for up-coming marathons,” he said.

Former Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion Lucy Kabuu won the women 5,000m event. Kabuu found the going easy and beat her follower Janet Kisa  from Vigilance House by nearly five minutes after she clocked 15:45.8 while Kisa settled for second position in 15:50.0.  Third was Joyce Wanjiku from Traffic (15:56.2).

Commonwealth games

Kabuu, who also won bronze in the 2006 in Melbourne Commonwealth Games over the 10,000m event, said she was using this event to test her speed work. Kabuu will now take part in the 10,000m event at the national trials to select Kenya’s Olympic team.

“I want to focus on 10,000m only and try and do well in the event during the trials. I feel my speed is good after a good performance today but I wish Vivian Cheruiyot (double world champion) was here to make this event more competitive,” she said.

Despite expectations that big names would feature in the 800m event, it did not happen as World champion David Rudisha and Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo stayed away.

Paul Kipsiele Koech won the men’s 1,500m event after clocking 3:41.0. He was followed home by Kipngetich Kirui, who finished in a time of 3:42.00 while Nicholas Kemboi was third in 3:43.7.

Walking race

In the 10km walk for women, Linda Waweru displayed superb skills to claim the title after she took just 53.48.03 to win ahead of Rael Rotich.

The two stuck together from the start, but as the distance reduced, fatigue crept in and Rotich slowed down and ultimately allowed Waweru to steer clear for the win.

Rotich took the second place in 54.58.06, which was better that third placed  Milcah Wanja who was credited with a time of 56.59.02.

In shot putt women, Betty Chebet 11.05m won ahead of  Neddy Kilimo 10.70m and  Sara Kimutai 9.84m.

The men 10km walking race  men saw the emergence of Josephat Sirma to claim the plaudits as he took a time of 42:49.03 to finish the event.

He beat Obadiah Nyaga (45:29.06) to second.

Long Jump men had Shadrack Chomboi 70.09m beating  Cyrus Katonon 70.2m to the title while Nelson Tarus 68.4m was third. Women pole-vault was won by Winny Langat 2.80m with Nancy Sang 2.00m finishing second.