Rono dedicates cross country victory to bereaved coach Kitilit
Bungoma’s Geoffrey Rono dedicated his victory at the Athletics Kenya Nairobi Cross Country Championships senior men’s 10km race to his coach Barnabas Kitilit who lost his wife recently.
Rono, and most athletes under the tutelage of the veteran athletics coach, will be heading to the National Cross Country Championships on January 22 at Lobo Village, Eldoret, with a point to prove.
“We stand with our coach and mentor Kitilit during the difficult moments,” Rono said after winning Nairobi Region’s cross country on Saturday at Kenya Prisons Service ground, Nairobi. West.
“We will be fighting not only to represent our regions but to uplift the spirit of our coach after the passing away of his beloved wife who was like a mother to so many of us,” he added.
Humble feeling
Kitilit, the Baringo County AK chairman, and his late wife used to accommodate about 60 athletes in his Torongo Training Camp in Eldama-Ravine, something Rono is grateful for.
On Saturday, the 21-year-old stayed in the leading pack before surging ahead to victory in 27:49.1, edging Musa Mitei who came in second in 27:56.1. Meshak Letim from Dagoretti romped home third in 28:11.8.
“The race was tough owing to the rich field of opponents. It could have gone either way but I looked stronger with every distance,” said Rono.
Rono who finished 14th during the National Cross Country Championships in 2019, coincidentally held in Eldoret, has big dreams for this year’s edition.
“I am praying for good health devoid of injuries,” said Rono, who will then turn his focus to the track where he intends to participate in the 1,500m.
In the women’s senior race, Emily Chebet held off Kenyan-born steeplechaser Winfred Yavi of Bahrain to win the thrilling race in 32:13.2.
Chebet, who finished second last year, said it felt good to upgrade to first position as she embarks on her journey in road racing.
“It’s a beautiful and humble feeling after I failed to win in the last two editions,” said Chebet, who beat Yavi, the Asian Games 3,000m steeplechase champion, to second in 32:23.7.
Chebet reckoned that Yavi was her only threat. “I tested her for sometime but decided to pull away with two laps to go to see her reaction. She couldn’t sustain my speed,” said Chebet.
Chebet, who finished 20th at last year’s National Cross Country Championships, is now targeting a top six finish during this year’s event due January 22 at Lobo Village, Eldoret.
“I was using this event to test my endurance and speed ahead of the World Indoor Tour,” said Yavi, who will be competing in the 1,500m indoors in view of polishing her speed ahead of the busy season.
Yavi said she will be targeting a podium finish in the 3,000m steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships in July in Oregon, USA.
