Langat and Anyango steal the show at annual Discovery cross-country in Eldoret
Valencia 10k winner Weldon Langat and youngster Immaculate Anyango ruled the roost at the 32nd edition of Discovery Cross Country at the Eldoret Sports Club yesterday.
A fortnight from running Valencia Ibarcaja 10k Langat was faced with stiff competition from world 10,000m bronze medalist Rhonex Kipruto, but he survived the scare to rule the day.
He was visibly excited to have won the race after crossing the finish line.
“I’m happy I have won the race, as you know it had elite athletes like Kipruto but I was still able to win,” said Langat.
Won the competition
Langat who was in the leading pack for the entire race, won the competition in a time of 30.31.2 to beat Bravin Kiprop to the second spot while Kipruto was placed third as they clocked 30:38.1 and 30.44.1 respectively.
Langat said he was using the race to gauge himself as he prepares for RAK 10k race.
“ I came just to try my luck after just a week ago running in valencia, it was my preparation for RAK,” said Langat.
In the 8km senior women category junior Immaculate Anyango emerged as the winner after defeating Burundian 800m Olympic silver medallist Francine Niyonsaba who came in fifth.
Anyango who trains Iten said that the race was not easy but she is happy to have won.
“The race was not easy, it was tough but my coach encouraged me to continue to push.” Said Anyango.
She braced the tape timing 27.49.4 as Catherine Reline was placed second clocking 28.2.3, while Rosalinda Jepketer close the top three timing 28.19.9.
Anyango said that she has just graduated to senior with a win which is a good thing for her.
“I competed in the nationals but I was not able to win, am happy to have won the race as a graduate to senior cadre.” Said Anyango.
Niyonsaba was placed fourth followed by Gladys Chesire in fifth timing 28.26.8 and 28.35.5 respectively.
In the junior men category, Kevin Kiprop won the race in a time of 25.05.5, defeating Amos Kiprotich who settled for the second spot in a time of 25.08.3, while Gilbert Kiprotich was placed third in a time of 25.11.1. Meanwhile, Dina Asher-Smith set a new British record as she won the women’s 60m at the World Indoor Tour in Germany.
Asher-Smith clocked a time of 7.04 seconds to beat Poland’s Ewa Swoboda, who finished in 7.09secs.
Swiss sprinter Mujinga Kambundji took third in 7.11secs at the Karlsruhe event.
Asher-Smith’s time surpassed Asha Philip’s previous mark of 7.06secs, set when winning the European title in 2017.
It marks a strong start to 2023 for Asher-Smith, who endured a stop-start season in 2022 after injury forced her to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games.
Elsewhere, Britain’s George Mills won the 1500m with an indoor personal best time of three minutes 35.88secs, while Jemma Reekie started her 2023 season with fifth place in the 800m, finishing with a time of two minutes 2.10secs.
