Chepng’etich undeterred
World marathon champion Ruth Chepng’etich is exuding confidence that her recruitment at the Kenya Prisons Training College will not hinder her preparations for the World Championships slated for July in Eugene, Oregon, US.
She is one of the recruits expected to undergo a nine-month wardens’ training programme at the Prisons Training College in Ruiru.
Speaking on Saturday during the Kenya Prisons Championships at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi, Chepng’etich oozed confidence. “I don’t think being in Ruiru will affect my preparations for the world championships,” said Chepng’etich when asked about the timing of her joining the correctional State department.
“I know what I want which is to work sufficient enough to defend my title,” she added.
During the two-day championships, she claimed an unprecedented double after winning 5,000m and 10,000m races. In the 10,000m, she won the race in 31:55.47 ahead of Alice Aprot and Lilian Chepkorir who finished second and third respectively..
Finishing first
The 27-year-old athlete will also seek to defend her Chicago Marathon slated for October.
“I am not concerned about time really, what matters here is victory, so for my two important races in the USA, I am more concerned about finishing first and not time,” she added. In other races, Prison Headquarters’ Dan Kiviasi won the men’s 100m ahead of Hesbon Otieno. He won in 0:49 seconds while Coast-based Ochieng came a distant second in 10:53. Nyanza’s Bonface Chirat was third in 11:08.
Commonwealth Games 20km walk bronze medallist Samuel Gathimba from Eastern led Shadrack Nyamai (Eastern) and Nehemiah Kiprono of Rift Valley in scooping all the podium places in the men’s 10km race walk. Gathimba clocked 42:57.3, while Nyamai and Kiprono timed 46:10.0 and 46:59.7 respectively.
Violet Jepkemboi of PSTC triumphed in the women’s event in 57:04.3, ahead of Nairobi’s Caroline Nyambura and Rift Valley’s Dorcas Esinyen who timed 59:59.00 and one hour and 11.9 minutes respectively.
On Saturday, Nairobi’s 2017 Africa Under-20 1,500m silver medallist Boaz Kiprugut snatched away the men’s 1,500m title after clocking 3:43.9.
