Elite rules Wareng race: Kiplagat obliterates rivals in Tuskys cross-country meet

By JOSEPH NGURE

Florence Kiplagat celebrates after winning the Berlin Marathon race in September. She won yesterday’s Tuskys Wareng Cross Country race in Eldoret. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

Berlin marathon champion Florence Kiplagat proved she still has the cross-country mastery when she raced to victory in the senior women 8km race in yesterday’s Tuskys Wareng Cross-country in Eldoret.

The senior men 12km distance was won by greenhorn Isaac Korir. Frankline Ng’elei, a student at Kipsaos Secondary in Keiyo South, ruled in the junior men category while cross-country favourite Agnes Cheruto won the 6km junior women.

Kiplagat, who is sharpening for New Delhi half marathon next month after winning Great North Run early this month, led fellow marathoner Hella Kiprop and Lucy Kabuu at the closely knit course at Huruma playing grounds.

“I enjoy running cross-country. But my pace was a bit slow here because of wind. The course is open. The performance is a morale bosting as I prepare for New Delhi half marathon,” said Kiplagat, who won gold at the 2009 World cross-country in Jordan.

She clocked 26:34.5 with Kiprop (26:38.9) and Kabuu (26:47.2) following in suit.

Venice Marathon Champion Mercy Kibarus timed at  27:05.9 in fourth ahead of Sally Kaptich (27:08.1) and Irine Birgen (27:14.9).

In men’s, 12km race, Isaac Korir displayed great cross-country running skills after leading from the gun to the tape unchallenged.

 The slim tall former Prison warder, who trains in Kapenguria, broke away after one kilometre with upcoming Cleophas Ng’etich running with him side by side.

But he enaged the winning gear with 4km to go, shaking off Ng’etich and clocking 35:50.6 to take home the top prize.

“My training this season is for cross-country and track. I did not do much last year although I was winning local races. I am aiming at the Africa cross-country title next year,” said Korir.

Ng’etich finished second in 36:02.2 while Clement Kemboi, another greenhorn  was third in 36:16.3. They were followed by Richard Ndegwa (36:18.8) fourth and James Murithi (36:21.0) fifth.

 Frankline Ng’elei, a student at Kipsaos secondary school in Keiyo South, ruled in the junior men category while cross-country favourite Agnes Cheruto won the 6km junior women.

 Ng’elei timed 23:42.6 ahead of Dominick Chemut (23:55.3), Peter Limo (23:57.6) and Abraham Kapses (24:01.1).

 In the junior women, Cheruto chalked 20:32.9 and was followed by Gloria Kite (20:43.0), Ruth Jebet in 20:52.9, and Margaret Chelimo who finished third after taking 21:05.4.