Athletics steals the show at secondary school games in Eldoret

Rift Valley's athletics giants proved the mettle they are made of at the region's secondary schools games in Eldoret.

Athletics stars from North Rift and South Rift counties produced mouthwatering performances as they booked places to the national secondary school games set for next month in Mombasa.

Talent producers such as St Francis Kimuron of Elgeyo Marakwet and Kiptere Secondary School representing Kericho, dominated podiums in day one of athletics action in the Rift Valley Secondary Schools Sports Association Games. Races were run at the University of Eldoret sports grounds.

Emmanuel Kiprono of Kimuron oozed class in boys' 5000m, timing 14:12.8. He was followed by Kelvin Kiprop (14:19.8), a dominant figure at junior cross races this season.

Mercy Chepkemoi of Tiloa (Nakuru) won the girls' category in 16:18.3, while Joyline Chepkemoi of Cheptonon (Nandi) and Deborah Cherotich of Sugutek (Kericho) finished second and third respectively.

Damaris Jerono from Kimwogo Secondary School, Elgeyo Marakwet emerged the Rift Valley 3000m champion in the girls' category, while International School Sport Federation (ISF) Under-15 champion Jane Wangare from Kiambogo (Naivasha) came in second.

"I promise not to disappoint the region at the nationals. I slowed down to reserve gas for the finish line because I feared that Wangare could sprint in the closing stages," Jerono said.

Wangare, a Form Two student, said she had trained well for the contest and hoped to improve her performance and make the team to East African school games.

Kiptere's Brian Kiptoo reigned supreme in boys' 3000m, overpowering Kimuron's Benson Kirongozi, who also competed at the ISF cross country in Nairobi last year.

Kiptoo joins the list of top athletics stars among them world 800m bronze medallist the late Kipyegon Bett, former Commonwealth 3000m steeplechase champion Purity Cherotich and New York City Marathon champion Sheila Chepkirui whose athletics talents were nurtured at Kiptere.

"Reaching the regionals was not easy. I will prepare well for nationals and the East African Games," Kiptoo said after victory. [Stephen Rutto]