Sheila Chepkirui (left-Silver), Alice Aprot (Centre-Gold) and Beatrice Mutai (bronze) pose for a photo with their medals after the senior women’s 10km race at the fourth Africa Cross Country Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon on Saturday. PHOTO | NMG
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The junior men staged a 1-2 finish while their seniors claimed silver and bronze. Nyahururu’s James Rungaru, who has represent Kenya twice without success, needed the last 50m to a chalk a surprise victory against Uganda’s Philip Kipgeyo in men’s 10km race as Charles Mneria from Kenya settled for bronze.
Yaounde. Kenya affirmed their prowess on the continent once again claiming both individual and team titles at the fourth Africa Cross Country Championships held on Saturday at Yaounde Golf Club, Cameroon. Senior and junior women teams mastered the hilly and humid course, delivering all the podium places.
The junior men staged a 1-2 finish while their seniors claimed silver and bronze. Nyahururu’s James Rungaru, who has represent Kenya twice without success, needed the last 50m to a chalk a surprise victory against Uganda’s Philip Kipgeyo in men’s 10km race as Charles Mneria from Kenya settled for bronze.
National champion Alice Aprot lived to her billing with a dominant gun-to-tape performance in women’s 10km as she led her compatriots Sheila Chepkirui and Beatrice Mutai to a podium sweep. Isaac Kipsang and Mirriam Cherop, who were making their maiden international debut, handed Kenya victories in junior men 8km and junior women 6km respectively.
Rungaru, 22, who finished sixth at both the 2011 World Junior Cross Country and 2015 Africa Games Half Marathon, was on top of his act this time around, winning senior men’s race in 24 minutes and 34 seconds.
A tactical Rungaru, who normally attacks from the front, opted to stay behind before bursting past Kipyego with 50m to go. Kipyego, who had stuck with the Kenyans for most part of the race, led the pack for the better part of the last 4km. He was the first to scale the last hill measuring 300m on the course and was seemingly headed for victory with Kenyans Rungaru, Charles Mneria, Cleophas Ng’etich and Geoffrey Kimutai in hot pursuit.
Rungaru then unleashed his kick to outwit the Ugandan, who was happy to deny Kenya a podium sweep, coming in second in 26:35 as Mneria took bronze in 26:46. Ng’etich and Kimutai finished fourth (26.:52)and fifth (27:09) for a Kenyan team win.
“I know Kenyans cheering on the sidelines had butterflies in their stomach when Kipyego was in the lead but I was comfortable since I knew where to beat him.
“I opted to stay behind the pack and I am happy the tactics worked especially against the Ugandan since I could feel his breathing style and pace and knew when to take him on,” said Rung’aru, who dedicated his victory to 2008 Olympics marathon champion the late Samuel Wanjiru and the country. (AFP)
