Former Boston Half Marathon Champion Brilliant Jepkorir and 10,000m World silver medalist Daniel Ebenyo are this year’s national cross country champions in the 10km races held today at the Eldoret sports Club.
Jepkorir from kenya Prisons who is a road running specialist athlete beat a star studded field to emerge victorious in 34 minutes 29.1 seconds ahead of North Rift’s Maurine Jepkoech who took 2nd position in 32:32.7 minutes while Stacy Ndiwa of Police finished 3rd in 34:54.5 minutes.
Ebenyo the National Police champion had to wait until the last two lasp to beat his rival Kibiwott Kandie of Kenya defebse forces who was leading for better part of the race.
Little known Nickson Kogei of Kenya Wild life services finished 2nd in 30:52.6 minutes followed by Simon Mungai from central region who completed the podium positions in 30:55.7 minutes.
Lornah Cherono emerged victorious in the 6km under 20 women by clocking in 21 minutes 11.7 seconds followed by Joyline Chepkemoi from central Rift and Cynthia Chepkurui of Nairobi in 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.
Kevin Kiprop of Central Rift won the 8km under 20 men after crossing the finish line in 24 minutes 57.4 minutes ahead of Frankline Kibet of North Rift and South Rift’s Emmanuel Lemiso in 2nd and 3rd positions in that order.
Ebenyo and Jepkorir were awarded Ksh 200,000 each for their victories.
The race marked the conclusion of the cross-country season, which now paves the way for the Sirikwa World Cross Country championships set for Lobo Village, Kapseret, in two weeks time.
Sports CS who graced the event reiterated the government’s commitment to support athletes ahead of this year’s World Athletics Championships this September in Tokyo,Japan.
National Olympics Committee of Kenya President Paul Tergat reassures that NOCK will support young athletes who will compete in this year’s Youth Olympics in Dakar Senegal.
