Kandie surrenders cross country crown to Kwemoi as Kamworor falls short

Commonwealth 10,000m bronze medalist Rodgers Kwemoi has upset the form book and floored World Half Marathon record holder and pre-race favourite Kibiwott Kandie to claim this year's National Cross Country Championships. 

Prior to the race, pundits heavily focused on the rivalry between the defending champion, Kandie and three-time World Half marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor but it was the Japan-based Kwemoi who carried the day after staging a throat-cutting sprint in the final two kilometres to cut the tape ahead of Kandie. 

Surprisingly, Kamworor who lost his crown to Kandie last year faded off midway and dropped out of the muddy Ngong Racecourse and will certainly miss out in the Kenyan team to the Africa Cross Country Championship set for Lome, Togo on March 7. The top six athletes from all categories have qualified for the continental showpiece 

Kwemoi who jetted back to Kenya from Tokyo in December clocked 31:03.3 while Kandie timed 31:05.5 ahead of Edwin Bett who settled for bronze after recording 31:10.9 on the clock. Fast-rising 5000m specialist Nicholas Kimeli booked a ticket in the team after finishing fourth on 31:12:4

In the ladies category, Sheila Chelagat coasted to the tape to retain her title. The Police runner was in a class of her own in the final kilometre, opening a massive gap between her and the battling challengers to win the race five seconds ahead of second-placed Daisy Cherotich. Chelagat clocked 34:55.5. 

Margaret Ngoiri ensured the Nairobi Region will be represented in Togo after finishing third on 35:02.1. Former Kenya Defence Forces champion Joyce Chepkemoi finished seventh on 35:51.4 behind the experienced and former World Steeplechase champion Hyvin Kiyeng who was lucky to make the cut on 35:41.1

Purity Chepkemoi and Gideon Rono won the junior categories on 20:50.2 and 24:43.6 respectively. 

16-year old Mercy Chepkemoi atoned her last year's dismal show with a ticket to Lome after ruling the girls 5k in the U-18 category. The youngster who is drawn from Tiloa camp in Nakuru County clocked 17:15.3 to cut the tape ahead of Marion Jepngetich who timed 17:24.8. Chepkemoi finished 18th during last year's edition.

Nyanza South's Jane Ghati filled the top three bracket after posting 17:32.5. Ismael Kirui was crowned the boys' champion after timing 18:39.2.

Selected Results

5K Girls (U-18): Mercy Chepkemoi- South Rift - 17:15.3, Marion Jepngetich - Central Rift - 17:24.8, Jane Ghati Nyanza - South - 17:32.5, Iscar Chelangat - South Rift - 17:34.8, Judy Kemunto - South Rift -  17:40.5, Sheila Chepkirui - South Rift - 17:48.9

6k Boys(U-18): Ismael Kirui - Central Rift - 18:39.2Lobeki Erigon - Central- 18:43.8Charles Rotich - North Rift - 18:49.1Mathew Kipkoech - South Rift - 18:49.1Denis Kipkirui- Nairobi - 18:59.8Timothy Kiptoo - Western - 19:03.8

6k Girls(U20): Purity Chepkirui - South Rift-20:50.2, Jackline Jepkoech- Central Rift-21:16.7, Feliciana Kanda- North Rift-21:25.1, Grace Loibach-Western - 21:37.3, Esther Wambui-Central - 21:41.7, Zena Jeptoo-Central Rift-21:51.4

8k Boys (U-20): Gideon Rono - Central Rift-24:43.6, Benson Kiolangat - Coast-24:57.3, Emmanuel Maru - Individual-24:24.2, Domongole Fredrick North Rift-24:28.7, Reuben Mosin-North Eastern -25:29.2, Etiang Kamar-North Eastern-25:30.5

10k Senior Men: Rodgers Kwemoi-Central Rift-31:03.3, Kibiwott Kandie-KDF-31:05.5, Edwin Bett- South Rift-31:10.9, Nicholas Kim Eli-Central Rift-31:12.4, Phenus Kipleting - Individual - 31:14.6, Daniel Mateiko-Individual-31:20.2

10k Senior: WomenSheila Chelagat- Police- 34:55.5, Daisy Cherotich-Central Rift- 35:00.9, Margaret Ngoiri-Nairobi-35:02.1, Agnes Chebet- Central Rift - 35:07.7, Everlyne Chirchir-Nyanza North-35:10.0.