Kipngeno sprints to win Mountain run

Patrick Kipngeno and Titus Kimutai in the AK Mountain run yesterday. [Ben Ahenda]

Homeboy Patrick Kipngeno and Francisca Kanda of Elgeyo Marakwet won the inaugural Athletics Kenya national Mountain Running championships in Naivasha, yesterday.

Kipngeno clocked 50 minutes 37.5 seconds to win the senior men 10km race as Kanda returned 48 minutes 11.5 seconds to bag the senior women 8km title, which opened the 2020-2021 Athletics Kenya season.

Titus Kimutai of Elgeyo Marakwet, who timed 51.09.0, finished second ahead of Michael Kamau of Nyandarua in a time of 51.43.8.

Hillary Koech of Elgeyo Marakwet (52.00.6) was third, while Emmanuel Bor of Nandi was fourth in a time of 52.12.1.

Teammates Beatrice Cheserek and Judith Korir gave Kanda some stiff competition in the senior women race.

Kipngeno leads Titus Kimutai during the inaugural Athletics Kenya Mountain running championships in Naivasha on November 22, 2020. [Ben Ahenda, Standard]

Cheserek timed 48.41.0, while Korir returned 49.20.6 to finish second and third.

Others in contention were Teresia Omosa of Nyamira (49.47.8), Nyandarua’s Loose Wangui (50.24.4) and Nesphine Chepleting of Nandi, who clocked 50.48.0.

The one-day competition attracted over 300 elite runners, who included World Under-20 steeplechase silver medallist Leonard Bett. Others were Kipsiele Koech and senior women runner Joan Cherono.