Kiplagat, Kibet set epic 5000m clash for 5000m Under 20 ticket

The highly anticipated Kenyan trials for next month's World Under-20 Athletics Championships in Nairobi, Kenya gunned of at Kasarani stadium on Thursday morning in explosives as hopeful junior men and women posted world class times in their various races.

Africa 3000m Under-18 champion Emmanuel Kiplagat marked himself as a clear favourite for the 5000m ticket to the age group athletics jamboree to defend Edward Zakayo's title won in 2018 Tampere, Finland. 

Kiplagat, held on for a 13:56.86 win in the first semi final in the distance at the ongoing Athletics Kenya (AK) trials for the showpiece set for August 17-22. 

"This was I semi final so I just took it easy. I had trained well with this race in focus and for now it was all about making it to the final. I have launched my bid to be the world champion, up from an African Champion. I still have some work to do in the finals because competition is stiff," said the form three Kaptimbor High School in Baringo County. 

Benson Kiplagat came in second 13:57.49 while North Eastern's Reuben Musin finished third in 13:58.47. 

In the second semi, Kosirai's Levi Kibet led the field for a comfortable 13:26.11 win in the fastest of the two semis while Central's Samuel Kibathi clocked 13:35.60. Ezra Kiplagat completed the podium 13:38.53 in the heat that saw even the fourth-placed Felix Korir post a faster time than heat 1 winner at 13:42.74. 

Kibet will be looking to walk in the footsteps of his alma mater's Mathew Kisoroi footsteps in regard to junior championship. In 2008, Kisorio won silver in the distance at the World U-20 Championship held in Poland. 

"I will be looking at improving on his (Kisorio) silver to a gold for my school. Going into the final, I feel that running at a better speed than I did on the semi will guaranteed me a place in team Kenya," said Kibet. 

Meanwhile in women's 3000m Japan-based Teresia Muthoni was a cut above the rest of her field in the first semi final as she clocked 8:56.29 to beat Africa Under-18 3000m champion Zena Chemutai who clocked 9:01.67 for second place. Naomi Jeptoo was third in 9:04.98. 

"I came here focused on winning and I feel ready for the final. Training in Japan had worked fine for me and despite running at high altitude in Nairobi, I felt comfortable and my race plan worked just fine," said Muthoni. 

On her part, Chemutai who finished fifth at the World Under-20 Championsip in Tempere, Finland in 2019 says her focus will be on crossing the line in top two from where she can work on winning the championship next month.

The second semi final saw Marion Jepngetich win in 8:59.03 with Maureen Jepkoech and Faith Chebet finished second and third in 9:09.82 and 9:10.47 respectively