Commonwealth Games 5,000m Hellen Obiri exercised her supremacy by winning her third title consecutively during today’s Kenya Defence Forces Athletics Championships at Kasarani stadium.
The 2017 world champion won her third 5,000m title beating reigning world half marathon record holder Joyciline jepkosgei among others athletes to cross the finish line in 14:48.5.
The 2016 Olympic silver medalist competed for Laikipia Air Base, finished first ahead of Joyciline Koima of Mtongwe (15:03.6) Kahawa’s Gladay Kimana came in third timing 15:06.8.
After posting mixed reactions in Mumias Athletics Kenya meeting last month, Commonwealth runner William Mbevi won 400m hurdles in his heat to qualify for the semi-finals as well as Edward Ngunjiri.
Mbevi timed 51.6 to triumph, edging out Kahawa’s John Gikonyo and Ezekiel Bett of Thika in 52.6 and 52.8 respectively.
Coming from Thika, Ngunjiri clocked 52.0 ahead of silver medallist Boniface Mucheru (Nanyuki) to second place in 52.1 as Geoffrey Kirui of Laikipia Air Base came in third in 55.4.
Athletics Kenya will use the nationals to select a team for Africa Senior Athletics Championships planned for August 1 to 5 in Assaba, Nigeria.
It’s in Assaba where Africa will pick it’s team for the IAAF Intercontinental Cup/World Cup due for September 8 and 9 in Ostrava, Czech Republic.