By JOSEPH NGURE
The annual Iten Safaricom road race lived to its status when athletes turned up in huge numbers to give the event a high profile as the athletics series sponsored by the mobile service provider kicked off in the country.
The race, flagged off by Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Togos, provided unique platform for seasoned road racers and upstarts to gauge their preparedness for the remaining season.
During the race, Olympian Alice Timbilil bounced back to the winning trails after tearing into the women race that was riveting with young talented road racers to emerge victorious.
Timbilil, who made her Olympic appearance alongside double world champion Vivian Cheruiyot when she was still a student in 2000, clocked 35:05.5 to announce her comeback from family engagement.
“It has been a long time for me since I competed last. I have just started training after my maternity break and I can see my body is responding on well,” she said.
Timbilil’s Kapsabet’s training mate Pascalia Jepkorir, the winner of this year’s Rift Valley Technical Training Institute’s 10 km race last month, timed 35:23.1 for second while Valentine Kibet of the Silvia Hilda Kibet siblings finished third in 35:33.7.
Cynthia Limo (35:37.7), Lina Jeruto (35:43.8) and Farida Chelang’a (35:49.1) finished in that order to seal the first six top places.
There was mixed results in the men’s line where this year’s Sotokoto Half Marathon champion Kiplimo Mitei wittingly outclassed a fine assembly to take the coveted title.
Mitei, the young brother to the highly talented Enock and Kipchumba Mitei, made a well-calculated move after the 5th kilometre covered in 15:10 minutes and overcame strong assault mounted six challengers that included upcoming Edwin Kipyego and cross-country jackpot winner Moses Mukono.
The winner, who trains at Kapng’etuny training camp in Burnt Forest, hit the tape in 29:39.7 to win the top prize as the spectators eagled and cheered wildly at the Iten Sports ground as the event coincided with the weekly market occasion.
“I decided to make an early move so that I could control the race. It was tough,” said Mitei, who is also The Standard Chartered Nairobi 10 kilometres champion. Nicholas Togom finished second in 29:46.9 while David Maru sealed the three podium slots in 39:58.6
