Obiri, Koros triumph on day one of KDF championships

World 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri continued her dominance on the track as she dominated the women’s 5000m at the 41st edition of the Kenya Defence Forces’ (KDF) athletics championship ongoing at the Nyayo National Stadium to clock 15:22.64 for the win.

In a repeat of the KDF cross country championship held in January at the Moi Airbase, Obiri who is also the reigning World Cross Country Champion beat her Laikipia Airbase (LAB) teammate Joyce Jepkemoi who settled for silver in 15:26.56 while Thika’s Sheila Chepkurui came in third in a time of 15:28.01. 

“The race was not easy as my competitors are equally experienced in the distance. My win here, being my sixth in the KDF championship, is good. I have had a few challenges in training but I have managed to stay injury-free and my race here is a good indicator that I am prepared for the Diamond League season,” said Obiri.

This year’s Wanda Diamond League will now begin in Gateshead, England on May 23, following a few minor alterations to the 2021 season calendar. The season opener will be held in the UK for the first time in 2021, with Gateshead stepping in to replace Rabat as the first host city on this year’s circuit.

“I will take part in the 3000m at the Doha diamond league. After taking part in the half marathon I thought my speed had reduced but from this race, I now know what to work on before heading to Doha. I have won there four times and I am going to run my race despite the competition I will be facing there,” Obiri offered to confirm that she will miss the season-opener. 

Meanwhile, in the absence of world half marathon record holder Kibiwott Kandie, his close competitor Collins Koros of the Kahawa Barracks carried the day in the men’s 10,000 in a time of 28:39.3 ahead of Albert Barkach and his Moi Airbase teammate Abel Mutai who clocked 28:42.5 and 28:48.0 for second and third respectively.