By OUR CORRESPONDENT
Miriam Chebet and Amos Kiprotich delivered commanding performances to win the third edition of the Kapsabet 15 km road race on Sunday.
Chebet, a gold medalist over the 5000m and 10,000m during BingwaFest at Siaya, stormed to victory in the women’s race, clocking an impressive 49:33.4 to finish as the only woman under the 50-minute mark.
She was followed by Judy Jepngetich (50:01.6) and Maryan Njoki (50:11.5), in a tightly contested podium battle.
Speaking after her triumph, Chebet said: “It was a good race, and everything worked just as I had planned. I have been fine tuning on my speedwork since winning at Siaya during BingwaFest, and it is all paying off. I will sit down with my coach, reflect on the race, and plan what’s next. We are thankful to Betika for the continued support in athletics as it means a lot to us athletes.”
In the men’s race, Kiprotich edged a fiercely competitive field to take first place in 44:22.0 ahead of Philemon Rono Cherop (44:22.6), with Dennis Kipkurui rounding off the podium in 44:23.1.
On his part, Kiprotich termed the race a tactical one, having stuck with the leading pack for the better part of the race before breaking away with one kilometre left.
“It was a very tactical race, and I am content with the execution. I stuck with the leading group, and we all pushed ourselves so that we could post better times. I am happy to have come out victorious today,” the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country silver medalist said.
Chebet and Kiprotich received Sh250,000 each, while second-placed Jepngetich and Rono pocketed Sh150,000 each, with third-place finishers Njoki and Kipkurui taking home Sh100,000 each.
The fourth and fifth-place finishers went home with Sh. 50,000 and Sh. 40,000 respectively, while the sixth to tenth-place finishers in both the men’s and women’s categories got Sh20,000.
This was the third edition of the Betika Kapsabet 15km Road Race, and it attracted more than 700 athletes.
Selected Results
Women
1. Miriam Chebet – 49:33.4
2. Judy Jepngetich – 50:01.6
3. Maryan Njoki – 50:11.5
4. Brenda Jepchumba – 50:27.5
5. Janet Jepkoech – 50:45.2
6. Jedidah Sang – 51:16.3
7. Phenah Yego – 51:18.5
8. Ninah Chepchumba – 51:26.5
9. Irine Jeruto – 51:39.2
10. Hellen Chepkoir – 51:43.0
Men
1. Amos Kiprotich – 44:22.0
2. Philemon Rono Cherop – 44:22.6
3. Dennis Kipkurui – 44:23.1
4. Cyrus Kipkemoi – 44:24.7
5. Justus Kiprop – 44:37.1
6. Alfred Chelal – 44:40.9
7. David Cheserek – 44:44.3
8. Cornelius Kemboi – 44:45.6
9. Vincent Kimutai – 44:49.0
10. Geoffrey Kipkemboi – 44:49.8
11. Simon Thuku – 45:00.1
