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L. MathekaKiptanui beats stellar field for 10km KDF title
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 07.01.22. | 15:22
Collins Koros clocked 29:21.45 for second place while Vedic Cheruiyot completed the podium finishes in a time of 29:23.78
Africa Games 1500m finalist Eric Kiptanui endured a tricky course at the Moi Airbase (MAB) to emerge victorious at Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) men's 10km race in 29:20.59.
On a race that had experienced runners, Kiptanui maintained his place in the leading pack but never at the front in a calculated move that saw his fellow runners do the hard work of pacing.
Wilson Too of Kahawa Garrison was first to up the tempo leading the first lap with KDF 10,000m and 5000m champion Collins Koros and former World half marathon champion Kibiwott Kandie in toe in a ten-man leading pack.
2:06:51 and a third place at today’s Chicago Marathon. Well done Eric Kiptanui🔝#BackToRacing #ChicagoMarathon
— NN Running Team (@NNRunningTeam) October 10, 2021
📷 @kevmofoto for @ChiMarathon pic.twitter.com/RpFeW5ZZWp
Kandie stepped up to lead the second lap with Mutongwe's Vedic Cheruiyot second while Koros placed third as the leading pack was reduced to six athletes.
Half way through third lap Kandie dropped to sixth but was back at the helm by 6km and looked strong enough to content for the title. However, he dropped off the leading pack at the bell with Kiptanui, Koros and Cheruiyot having put a slight gap between themselves and the rest of the first
With a kilometre to go, it was evident this would be a sprint finish and true to the prediction the three leaders were bundled together in the last 150m of the race. Koros went ahead with about 50m left but Kiptanui proved stronger as he came from behind to pip the Kahawa Garrison athlete in the last 10m for the title.
L̷o̷n̷d̷o̷n̷ ✈️ Chicago
— NN Running Team (@NNRunningTeam) October 5, 2021
Eric Kiptanui will start on Sunday’s @ChiMarathon 🇺🇸#BackToRacing #ChicagoMarathon pic.twitter.com/ugxFbQecNg
"It was a tough race but I came prepared to content for the title. I knew I would be up against a strong field so I had done due diligence and stepped up training in the last month. I am yet to reach my best and struggled a bit today but I am happy for the win. This is a good indicator of the season to come.
I am planning to get back on track, competing in 5000m and 10,000m while targeting Team Kenya to the World Athletics Championships. My performance here sets a good precedence because I will now get back to track training well aware that my endurance is not badly off," said the Kaptagat-based Kiptanui.
Koros clocked 29:21.45 for second place while Cheruiyot completed the podium finishes in a time of 29:23.78.
