Maurine Jepkoech Chebor and Diana Chepkemoi stunned opponents to win in their respective events on day of today at the African Senior Athletics Championships combined trials at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
With the continental championships set for May 12–17 in Accra, Ghana, Chebor and Chepkemoi won in the 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase to earn the slots.
The event is also part of the Athletics Kenya in selecting the team for both the World Relays and African Championships.
Chebor won the 5,000m title in 15:51.04, meeting the qualifying time of 16:18.0 ahead of Joyline Chepkemoi (15:53.08), Cynthia Chepkurui placed third in 16:00.99 and Nancy Jepkemei finished fourth in 16:15.68 who all made the qualifying time.
Chepkemoi won the water and barriers title in 9:36.76 beating Mercy Chepng’eno to second at 9:38.87 while Mercy Mageso completed the podium by clocking 9:45.27, with the three meeting the qualifying time of 10:30.0.
In women hurdles, Gladys Ngure won the 400m hurdles title to qualify to Accra with 59.06 with qualifying mark set at 59.64.
In men’s 400m hurdles, Kipkorir Rotich earned the slot when hre clocked 49.93, hitting below the qualifying mark at 50.94.
Mary Ekiru (4:09.60), led Faith Chebet (4:11.64) and Vivian Chebet (4:12.45) to qualify in women’s 1,500m.
Field events
Kipsang sets national record in triple jump
Faith Kipsang set a new national record in the women’s triple jump after clearing 1.80m, crushing Zeddy Chesire’s record of 1.75m set in 2023.
Kipsang was the sole qualifier with Margaret Kingi was second at 1.60m while Eucabeth Chepkemoi 1.55m with qualifying mark set at 1.75m.
Still in the field, Roseline Rakamba qualified with a 57.08m hammer throw to qualify at 50.50m beating Nancy Wambua (48.88m) and Lucy Omondi (46.74m) who all missed the cut.
As Rakamba shone in women hammer, Dominic Abunda also booked for Accra with a 62.60m throw, surpassing the 59.00m mark with second and third placed Adelbert Nyambasora (55.01m) and Reagan Oketch (54.21m) missing out.