Posted: February 14, 2004

Athletics: Kipchoge Is Kenyan Cross Country Champion

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved < RaceResultsWeekly.com>

By Peter Njenga

NAIROBI (13-Feb) -- Eliud Kipchoge won the senior men's race of the Kenyan national cross country championships cum Nairobi IAAF Permit Meeting here today in what he described as the toughest race of his career.

Too cautious to make any mistake, Kipchoge took the lead at the halfway mark after running closely with 2003 champion John Cheruiyot Korir, 2002 world cross bronze medallist Wilberforce Talel, former 5000 meter world champion Richard Limo, and reigning world steelpechase champion, Saif Saaeed Shaheen, the former Kenyan who now runs for Qatar.

Sheheen held his position in the first and part of the second lap but was to retire at the 10 km mark, complaining of chest pain.

In victory, Kipchoge, the reigning 5000 meter world champion, described the race as a "glimpse of hell," having been forced to steer clear from the leading pack at the 8000m mark. He finished 20 metres ahead of the opposition in 35 minutes 19.00 seconds ahead of former champion Korir (35:26.0).

Abraham Chebii won the men's short course race in a photo finish after edging out former world short course champion John Kibowen. Both were credited with 11:00.0. Immediately behind them, Kiplimo Muneria, Bonface Songok and Isaac Songok finished in one batch in another photo finish, all clocking 11:01.0.

In the senior women's 8 km race, Alice Timbilil broke away early and built a 50 metre gap over the 1997 world champion at the 10,000m Sally Barsosio, who had returned to the track after a maternity leave. Jane Ngotho, who first competed in the world championships 17 years ago, surprised the 5,000 spectators who graced the nationals with a meritable sixth.

Beatrice Chepchumba was the surprise winner of the women's short course in 12:42.0, having beaten two-time world champion over the distance Edith Masai to third and Jane Gakunyi (also known as Jane Kiptoo), third at last year's worlds who finished to second in 12:45.0.

Athletics Kenya named a provisional squad of 53 who go into a residential training camp at high elevation in Embu from Monday and appointed seven coaches, the biggest number ever headed by the 1992 Barcelona Olympics silver medallist in the 3,000m steeplechase Patrick Sang.

Top ten athletes were named in the provisional squad.

Top results (detailed results in Monday's RRW):

Men 12 km:
1. Eliud Kipchoge, North Rift, 35:19.0
2. John Korir, Armed Forces, 35:26.0
3. Wilberforce Talel, Armed Forces, 35:34.0
4. Richard Limo, North Rift, 35:39.0

Men 4 km:
1. Abraham Chebii, North Rift, 11:00.0
2. John Kibowen, Armed Forces, 11:00.0
3. Kiplimo Muneria, Armed Forces, 11:01.0
4. Bonifce Songok, North Rift, 11:01.0
5. Isaac Songok, Armed Forces, 11:01.0

Junior men 8 km:
1. Barnabas Kosgei, North Rift, 23:23.0
2. Hosea Macharinyang, North Rift, 23:28.0
3. Ronald Kipchumba, North Rift, 23:43.0

Sr. Women 8 km:
1. Alice Timbilil, North Rift, 26:46.0
2. Sally Barosio, Armed Forces, 26:56.0
3. Irene Kwambai, Armed Forces, 27:11.0
4. Evalyne Kimwei, Nairobi, 27:16.0
...
10. Catherine Ndereba, Prisons, 27:44.0

Women 4 km:
1. Beatrice Jepchumba, North Rift, 12:42.0
2. Jane Gakunyi, Central, 12:45.0
3. Edith Masai, Prisons, 12:47.0
4. Peninah Jepchumba, North Rift, 12:53.0
5. Isabella Ochichi, Police, 12:57.0

Junior women 6 km:
1. Chemutai Rionotukel, North Rift, 20:02.0
2. Jebichi Yator, North Rift, 20:04.0
3. Pamela Lisoreng, Individual, 20:05.0

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