Obiri, Kandie retain KDF Championships titles

Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri and World Half Marathon silver medalist Kibiwott Kandie retained their respective titles after emerging victorious in the Kenya Defence Forces Athletics Championships held on Wednesday at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.

The two-time 5000m World Champion beat Commonwealth Games 5,000m bronze medalist Selah Jepleting in the homestretch to seal her fifth 5,000m crown after clocking 15:19.70.

Jepleting settled for the second place in 15:21.36 as Cynthia Chepngéno came in third in 15:23.36.

With four laps to go, competition for the podium finishes was reduced to the trio who pulled away but it was Obiri, fresh from retaining her Great Manchester Run 10km title on Sunday in the United Kingdom, who emerged victorious.

"I felt I had to push to the limit with Jepleting not giving me any breathing space. I had not competed at home this year hence my decision to come and represent my Laikipia Airbase team as well as defend my title. Track will always give me the speed I need in a marathon,” she told the Daily Nation.

Kandie, the Commonwealth Games 10,000m bronze medalist, was in a class of his own as he dropped the rest with eight laps to go, building up a healthy lead before winning in 28:19.32.

Kandie, who finished fourth during the World Cross Country Championships in Australia in February, edged out Hillary Koech and Abel Mutai to second and third places in 28:35.20 and 28:43.76 respectively.

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“This gives me a good build up since my focus is making Team Kenya for the world event in Budapest,” said Kandie afterwards.

Kandie won the national trials for the World Athletics Championships held last year in Eugene, but was left out after he had failed to hit the qualifying time.

Kandie now has the qualifying time in 10,000m for Budapest after he finished second at the Adizero Road to Records 10km in 26:53, surpassing the time of 27:10.00 for Budapest.