Ruth Chepng’etich secures second victory as Prisons pick strong team

Ruth Chepng'etich on her way to winning Kenya Prisons Championships women's 10000m race at Kasarani Stadium yesterday. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kenya Prisons Services picked a strong team ahead of the National Athletics Championships cum Senior African Athletics Championships trials slated for April 28-30 at Kasarani Stadium.

World Marathon Champion Ruth Chepngetic announced her arrival at the the correctional services with a double victory in women’s 5000m and 10000m. 

Front running Chepngetich, representing Prisons Staff Training College, controlled the 10000m race from the gun to tape by timing 31:55.47 as seasoned Alice Aprot finished second on the final day of the championships at Kasarani Stadium yesterday. Aprot of Coast region clocked 31:57.85. 

The 27-year-old Chepngetich who overcame the midnight heat in Doha in 2019 to claim the marathon title will be aiming to retain her crown in the upcoming Eugene World Championships.

Earlier this year, she posted the second-fastest women-only marathon time of 2hr 17min 18sec to win in Nagoya.

“This was my first Prisons Championships and I’m impressed with my results, this is part of my training programme ahead of the World Championships in July,” said Chepngetich who won the women’s 5000m on the opening day of the Prisons meet. 

Former World Under-18 steeplechase champion Caren Chebet of Central Region took the top honours in the women’s steeplechase, winning the race in 9:43.9 ahead of Fancy Cherono of Prisons Staff Training College and Jackline Wambui who clocked 10:00.9 and 10:58.3 respectively.  

Celliphine Chespol continued with her impressive start of the season after recovering from an accident by winning the women’s 1500m race.

The world U20 steeplechase record holder timed 4:12.02 ahead of Caren Chebet who timed 4:13.20 while Betty Chelangat finished third in 4:18.20. 

“This championship basically formed part of my training, that’s why I decided to use 1500m event to test my speed endurance. But I definitely run my event, 3000m steeplechase at the World Championships trials,” said Chespol. 

In the sprints, newcomer Janet Chepkoech bagged the women’s 400m event in 62.4 ahead of Edinah Ogendi (62 .8) and Maureen Wafula (63.0.)

The corresponding men’s 400m title went to Moses Kimutai.