Chebet, Kipngetich among big winners in first day of 2nd AK weekend meet, Omanyala attempts 400m

Africa’s fastest man and the reigning 100m Commonwealth Champion, Ferdinand Omanyala, was among the star attractions on the first day of the second Athletics Kenya Track and Field weekend meeting Friday at the Ulinzi Sports Complex Grounds in Nairobi.

Omanyala, who is building up to a busy Olympic year, this time participated in one of the men’s 400m heats, which he intended to use as a test for endurance, and finished fifth at the first time of asking, timing 49.06.

“I had an individual time trial for 300 meters, and my coach suggested that we could try the 400 meters,” Omanyala said in his post-race interview. “It's something I wanted to do even last season.

“All in all, it was a wonderful experience, and I believe if I do it for the second and fourth time, my time and performance will be better.”

Overall, Kelvin Kiprotich of Kenya Prisons won the 400m heats, timing 46.63, and was joined by other top performers: Kenya Police’s Brian Onyari, who timed 46.76, his compatriot Erastus Mbaruka (47.02), and Nathaniel Kipngetich of Kenya Prisons, who clocked 47.03.

In one of the impressive showings of the day, however, South Rift’s Gideon Kipngetich dominated the men’s 5000m finals, winning in a time of 13:43.70.

Following him in second place was Central’s Francis Abong - who clocked 13:46.8, with Silas Senchura, also of South Rift, rounding off the top three finishers in a time of 13:50.56.

“It was quite a challenging race because it forced all of us to keep up a really high pace,” Kipngetich, who hopes to represent Kenya in this year’s World Cross Country in Belgrade, said after the race. “It was my first competition this year, and I plan to maintain this high gear while also working with my coach on how I will work well on the track.”

Later in the day, punctuated by short spells of rain, Sandra Phelis Chebet won the women’s 10000m in a time of 32:35.43, finishing ahead of Central’s Rebecca Njeri (33:10.88), who came in second place, and Monica Wangui (33:25.43) in third.

“I thank God for this win, and also my competitors for making it a worthy race,” Chebet said post-race, adding that the weather fluctuations didn’t affect her rhythm.

“My plan this year is to at least qualify for the All Africa Games and the Olympic Games. My training has been good, and having done my weekend meets in Machakos and Bomet, my hopes for participating in the World Cross Country are also high.”

In the men’s 110m finals, Wiseman Were finished top, clocking 14.32, ahead of Rotich Kipkorir and William Mutunga, who timed 14.91 and 15.43, respectively.

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Millicent Ndoro was the top runner in the women’s 200m heats, timing 23.67, with Esther Mbagari of Kenya Prisons clocking 24.07.

In the field events, Zeddy Jesire was a delight in the women’s long jump final, winning with a distance of 5.80m, with Veronica Akinyi winning the women’s shot put, hitting 9.73m.

Action continues on Saturday at the same venue, with main finals including the 3000m steeplechase, 800m, 100m, and men’s 10000m expected to take place.