Former World Junior 1,500m bronze medalist Chepng'etich, Emmanuel Bor rule Iten cross-country meet

Stellah Kipngetich from Kericho celebrates after crossing the KCB AK cross country race at Iten grounds Elgeyo Marakwet County on Saturday.

Former World Junior 1,500m bronze medalist Sheilah Chepng'etich and little-known Emmanuel Bor on Saturday chalked up victories at the second leg of Athletics Kenya cross-country meeting in Iten.

Newcomers Julius Tanki and Iveene Chepkemboi also shone in the junior races held at Iten sports grounds.

Iten-based Chepng'etich, a fresh graduate to the senior ranks, added another feather to her illustrious cup of cross-country meetings. She has already won in Kimbilio, Ndalat, Nairobi cross country and now in Iten.

In a race that attracted 76 athletes, Chepng'etich showed her pedigree as she cruised to the finish line unchallenged.

Chepng'etich, who came to the international limelight at the 2011 IAAF World Youth Championships, stormed into the lead from the gun and comfortable controlled the pace of the race until the final kilometre when Irene Chebet closed in on her.

But that only inspired her to switch up the gear with only 50 metres left. Chebet had no responce to her sudden burst of speed and Chepng'etich stopped the clock at  25:53:4 ahead of Chebet (25:56.6) and Africa cross-country medalist Nancy Nziza in third place after 26:28:3 minutes.

On-the-comeback-trail, Veronica Nyaruai, the 2006 World Junior 3,000m champion, could only settle for the fourth position in 26:48:2 while Magdalene Masai (25:56:5), another sibling of the famed 10,000m women champion Linet Masai was fifth.

Chepng'etich, who longs to seal her spot in the IAAF World Cross-Country gala in Guiyang, China, on March 28, said she too has a huge dream to make the cut to IAAF World Championships, which will also be held in the Chinese capital of Beijing next August.

"I want to try my best to make the team to the world cross in China. Making the team alone is enough, I need a medal in world cross-country. And that would be my best achievement," she said.

Bor claimed the men's senior race beating a field of 200 athletes clocking 35:08:4. Phillip Langat returned second in 35:10:7 as Joseph Kiprono (35:19:3) and John Chepkwony (35:23.7) checked in third and fourth respectively. Stephen Arita was fifth in 35:25:4.

In the junior races front, Iveen Chepkemboi and Julius Tanki dominated.

Chepkemboi employed an electric pace to breeze the tape in 20:02:6, beating a strong field of 33 runners. Tanki managed to win over 108 athletes .

Organisers, however, were concerned with the low turnout.