Big Guns Ebenyo, Anyango Blaze as Uasin Gishu Hosted the World

Experience was pivotal as Daniel Ebenyo, Emmaculate Anyango, Mathew Kipkoech and Mercy Chepkemoi victored at the Sirikwa Classic Cross in Kapseret on Saturday.

The four obliterated big line ups to emerge victorious in their respective categories at the event held at Lobbo Village in Kapseret Sub-County.

Ebenyo cut the tape first to win the senior men’s 10km race in 29.16 minutes, Ishmael Kipkirui coming second in 29.18 and Weldon Lang’at third in 29.26.

The women’s 10km Senior race saw Anyango lead from gun to tape to come home first in 32.55, Joyceline Jepkosgei second in 33.10 and Catherine Reline third in 33.18.

Chepkemoi beat a huge field of budding women athletes to win the Under 20 (Junior Women) 6km race in 20.07, Diana Chepkemoi closely second in 20.10 and Sheila Jebet 20.12. This was a tough competition.

Mathew Kipkoech stopped the timer in 23.32 to win the men’s Under 20 (Junior men) 8km. Samuel Wanjiru (23.37) and Charles Rotich (23.40) filled top three spots.

Athletics Kenya President Lt Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei said the event was used to select Kenyan team to the 2024 African Cross Country Championships set for end of February.

Uasin Gishu Govenor Dr Jonathan Bii, in a note delivered by his Minister for Sports, Eng Lucy Ng’endo, said his government has put strategies and policies to monetize talent. Governor’s Cup Tourneys are part of the plan.

Dr Bii also said his government will work with organizers to bring more athletics events to Uasin Gishu as the region boasts a huge fanfare for running. The corporate sponsors will also get great publicity when fans attend events in thousands, he said.

In a speech read on his behalf by his counterpart for Cooperatives Simon Chelugui, Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba said the Ministry is keen to end doping and foster promotion of talent monetization.