Kimitei, Nzisa lock up Prisons 10000m, 5000m titles

Wilfred Kimitei produced a strong finish to conquer a field that had last year’s Boston Marathon champion, Mark Mutai and 2007 Osaka Worlds marathon winner, Luke Kibet to clinch the men 10000m title as the track and field action of the Kenya Prisons Championships got underway on Friday.

Kimitei produced a searing last two-lap sustained surge to take the honours in 29:26.2 as Peter Emase and Frederick Moranga clocked 29:28.8 and 29:32.3 to share the podium with the dominant winner.

Mutai and Kibet ploughed along the field to finish closer to the wooden spoon and did not even feature in the top ten at an event where Geoffrey Korir (29:37.1) finished just outside the medals in fourth.

The women’s 5000m final went according to script with Nancy Nzisa –the pre-race favourite- comfortably coming home for the title in 16:02.5 well clear of Catherine Syokau who came in second in 16:13.0 as Valentine Kibii clocked 16:27.1 for third in an event where the field strung out into a procession.

“Today’s race was okay though I was careful since have not participated in any of the Athletics Kenya meetings and I was not sure of my shape.

“However, my training in Machakos has contributed a lot and will not change my training grounds since the climate in is similar to that of Rio and if am selected for Olympics I shall do my best,” Nzisa, the 2012 Africa Cross bronze winner said.

Gladys Ngure won the women 100m Hurdles in 15.5 as veteran former multiple Prisons champion; Florence Wasike of Prisons Staff Training College followed home two seconds later with Hynes Chepkemoi settling for bronze for her Coast team in 15.9.

Paris Marathon champion, Visiline Jepkesho will be out to underline her supremacy when the meet closes on Saturday in the women 10,000m finals.

“I’m well prepared for tomorrow (Saturday). If the weather will be okay, I believe I shall have a good performance,” she assured.

Jepkesho is hopeful that AK will consider her in the women’s marathon team for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

“My performance at last year’s World Championship was not good since my legs gave in at the 25km mark. However, in this season I want to give my best since so far I got no injury and I would say that I’m in shape,” she added.

SELECT RESULTS

10,000M MEN

1. Wilfred Kimitei 29:26.2

2. Peter Emase 29:29.8

3. Fredrick Moranga 29:32.3

4. Geoffrey Korir 29:37.1

5. Timothy Kimeli 30:06.4

6. Abraham Kiplangat 30:06.9

7. Dominic Mibei 30:08.2

8. Robert Sawoyo 30:17.4

9. Bernard Rotich 30:33.7

10. Vincent Kibor 30:35.5

100MH WOMEN FINALS

1.Gladys Ngure 15.5

2.Florence Wasike 15.7

3. Hynes Chepkemoi 15.9

4.Lucy Afandi 18.1

5. Lydia Omosa 18.3