Reigning world cross country champion Geoffrey Kamworor (pic) beat arch-rival Bedan Karoki to win the men’s race at the IAAF Kenyan international cross country at Nairobi’s Uhuru gardens yesterday.
In a fast race, Kamworor, Karoki and Leonard Barsoton, the African champion, led the runners through a punishing pace before opening up a three-horse race on the final lap. Karoki went into the lead with 100 metres to go with Kamworor closely behind him. But Kamworor unleashed a powerful kick in the last 40 metres to hold off his rival and win in 28 minutes 19 seconds.
Karoki, the defending champion, was second in 28:24 while Barsoton (28:26) was third. “I was determined to come here and win the title after finishing second to Karoki last year,” said Kamworor. “This is an important year for me with the Olympics in Rio, and the world half marathon championships in Cardiff, where I will defend my title.”
Alice Aprot made the front running and was delighted to win the women’s race after six attempts. It was the African 10,000m champion’s third victory in the IAAF cross country permit series this season, after wins in Campaccio, Italy and Antrim, Northern Ireland in January.
“I decided to do all the front running because I was avoiding being knocked down on the muddy and slippery ground,” Aprot told reporters after the race. “I have always finished among the top three since 2010, so this is a sweet victory for me.
“Last season I was very upset when I failed to make the team for the world cross country championships in Guiyang, China, but this season I have been in fine form and I hope to do well at the African cross country championship in Yaounde, Cameroon.”
Faith Chepngetich, the women’s defending champion was the biggest casualty, as she dropped out of the competition with a leg injury.
But the world 1500m silver medallist Chepngetich’s elder sister Beatrice Mutai managed to stay in the contention to finish a distant second to Aprot in 33:28. After the event, Kenyan selectors named a 32-member team to compete in the March 12 African cross country championships.