Nyandarua County: Nyandarua County at the weekend witnessed the coming up of new champions during the Nyandarua County cross-country championship held in Ol Kalou. During the cross country held at the Ol Kalua Arboretum, Simon Mungai won the senior men’s 10 km race in style by creating a one-minute gap from the second finisher. In the race, Mungai kept pushing, leading in the first kilometre, and by the bell he had created a gap, crossing the finish line in 32:55.28. Mungai attributed his high speed in the race to regular training at the Nyahururu high-altitude stadium. ‘Moving my training from Kinamba in Laikipia to Nyahururu has enabled me to concentrate well in my training,’ noted Mwangi.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mungai was followed by Joseph Mwangi, who was second in 34:05.38, ahead of James Waweru, 34:10.78, and Julius Leteila, 34:18.73. Stanley Mwangi, who last year finished third, trailed 5th behind Waweru in 34:23.26. Benson Wachira closed the finish line in 34:36.60, finishing sixth to close the team that will represent Nyandarua in the Central Region championships set for Kangati in Nyeri County at the weekend. Anthony Maina, who won last year’s senior men’s event, was among the Japan-based athletes who attended the championships but did not run, saying, ‘I will run in the regional championship as an individual,’ observed Maina.
In the senior women’s 10 km, Faith Ruto dominated the race in the last kilometre of the five-lap race to win in 39:46.02, followed closely by Florence Watetu in 39:53.07. Domtila Cheruto clocked third position in 40:09.43, while Gladys Wairimu, Lucy Wanjiru, and Maureen Wanjiku finished fourth, fifth, and sixth in 41:22.13, 41:33.9, and 42:28.38, respectively, to close the county team for the Central Region Championship in Nyeri.
Melvin Lamayiana won the Under-20 men’s 8 km race in 27:26.38, followed by Anthony Pareiyo in 27:39.03, while Ian Ndung’u in 27:40.9, James Karuri in 27:54.5, David Mwangi in 28:18.2, and Joseph Ntimama in 28:25.8 trailed 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th, respectively, forming the county team for U-20. The U-20 girls’ race was dominated by Caren Kipchirchir, 23:48.4, followed by Clair Cheruto, 23:52.9, while Monica Ekuom, 24:10.14, Sheila Chepng’eno, 24:16.6, Nancy Jepng’etich, 24:31.6, and Cynthia Jelagat, 24:50.9, finished in that order to also be in the county team.