Commonwealth and Olympic 3,000m styeepelchase champion Conseslus Kipruto and Commonwealth 1,500m silver medalist Beatrice Chepkoech made their presence felt when they won Water and barriers races in the last day Athletics Kenya championships cum Senior Athletics trials to be staged in Assaba, Nigeria.
But it was great day for youthful athletes when Gloria Mulei broke a 19 year old triple jump’s national record while little known Samuel Chebolet stunned seasonal Cyrus Rutto to clinch 5,000m title.
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Kipruto, who wants to break the world record currently held by Kenyan born turn Bahrain Saaeed Shaheen formerly Stephen Cherono.
The world 3,000m champion won in 8:18.05 defeating Commonwealth 3,000m steeplechase bronze medalist Amos Kirui from South Rift in 8:18.37 to automatically book for Assaba slot that runs from August 1-5.
The all-time winner enjoys his personal best of 8:00.12 set during the 2016 Birmingham Diamond League in 2016 away from Shaheen’s 7:53.63.
Competing for Kenya Police, Beatrice Chepkoech stunned her opponents to clinch the title in 9:23.73 beating Commonwealth 3,000m silver medalist Celiphine Chespol from Prison second in 9:28.36. Fancy Cherono settled third in 9:37.62 but will have to bank on a wild card from Athletics Kenya.
Before heading to Assaba, Chespol will be defending her 3,000m steeplechase title at World Under-20 Championships due July 10-15 in Tampere, Finland.
Competing for North Rift, upstart Samuel Chebolet stunned Cyrus Rutto to win the men’s 5,000m final.
Chebolet clocked 13:38.27 to triumph ahead of Kenya Defence Forces Rutto who timed 13:38.81 for second.
At the same time, Samuel Gathimba from Prisons is in line to defend his Africa 20km race walk title after retaining his national title in 1:21.58 ahead of KDF’s Simon Wachira in 1:22.36.
Gathimba won the Africa title in 2016 in South Africa not only in a national record but also championship record time of 1:19.24.
There was glory as Gloria Mulei broke the 19 year old Caroline Kola’s triple jump record of 12.91 the 18 year old Kwanthanze student to 12:97m.