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Asbel Kiprop Kiprono and Maureen Jepkoech claimed victories in the men's and women's 10km senior races at the first Athletics Kenya Cross Country Series in Machakos.
Maureen Jepkoech and Asbel Kiprop Kipron reigned supreme in the 10km senior races at the first Cross Country Series-Machakos at the Machakos Teachers College.
The men’s race saw Asbel Kiprop Kiprono, an underdog in the race, take the top honours dominantly after going toe-to-toe with Francis Abong’ who eventually took second place.
Asbel Kiprop Kiprono put in the work with a few meters to the finish line and he could be seen celebrating after crossing the finish line in style. Victor Kipruto ran a tactical race to round up the podium in the senior men’s race.
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15:53 - 16.10.2024
Lilian Odira, Reynold Cheruiyot lead entries for AK Cross Country Series opener in Machakos
Top athletes Reynold Cheruiyot, Lilian Odira, and Sandrafelis Chebet will headline the Athletics Kenya Cross Country Series opener in Machakos, aiming to build momentum for the 2025 World Championships after challenging Olympic seasons., aiming to build momentum for the 2025 World Championships after challenging Olympic seasons.
“I want to participate in road running…at the moment, I don’t have another race until next month where I intend to run in Iten,” Asbel Kiprop Kiprono said.
In the women’s race, Maureen Jepkoech held onto the leading pack for the better part of the race and maintained her momentum all the way to the finish line. After passing the 7km mark, the battle was now between Jepkoech and Christine Njoki with the latter doing most of the work.
With the finish line in sight, Jepkoech unleashed a finishing kick, outsmarting Christine Njoki who was forced to settle for second place. Esther Jemutai completed the podium in the hotly contested with some newbies including Esther Mbagari and Lilian Odira finishing outside the podium bracket.
Speaking after her third-place finish, Jemutai was grateful to have opened her cross-country campaign with a podium place and expressed her interest in representing the country at either the World Cross-country Championships in 2026 or the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan next year.
“I thank God for the third position this being the first Athletics Kenya meeting for the season. I would like to be included in the World Cross-country team and I’m also looking forward to being included in the 10,000m to the World Championships,” she said.
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