Africa-Press – Kenya. Open Africa Masters Athletics championship trialist David Biwott believes his training sessions with his son, Titus Kipruto, was enough preparation for the trials, which kicked off yesterday at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi.
Biwott clocked 16:10.5 to win the men’s 5,000m race in the 50-54 years age category as Joshua Kipchumba (16:17.0) and Samuel Maina (18:10.7) came second and third respectively.
“I had really trained well and I am happy that it has all paid off today. I have been training alongside my son, Titus Kipruto, who recently competed at the Rotterdam Marathon where he finished fourth. We have been pushing each other in training,” Biwott said.
The two-time Radenci Marathon champion said he is yet to retire but has had to take a back seat and let his offsprings showcase their talents.
“I have not yet officially hang up the spikes but my focus has been on my children. I went to Qatar to work and when I came back, I decided to train my children to grow their career in athletics,” the 53-year old from Nandi said.
In other men’s 5,000m results, 63-year old Nelson Kipyego won the 60-64 years age category, clocking 18:59.0 to cut the tape.
James Miaka and John Githinji clocked 20:47.4 and 21:23.0 to finish second and third respectively.
In the 65-69 years category, Joseph Karaiyu came first in 25:17.4 as Peter Gathuku (27:23.0) and Joel Ismael (27:31.0) rounded up the top three places.
In the women’s 1,500m, Nelly Jeptanui secured first place in 4:48.8 as Beatrice Jepchumba (4:58.2) and Florence Malyunga (5:08.7) followed.
Jeptanui, a Kenya Defence Forces Officer has now set sights on the upcoming global Masters competitions including the World Championships in Tampere, Finland in July next year.
“The race was not easy but that is not a surprise. I am happy to have won and now I want to work hard towards winning gold on home soil in about two weeks. I also want to make it for the world championships and maybe improve on the bronze I won the last time I went to Spain in 2018,” Jeptanui, 40, said.
The trials are being held to select a team of 40 athletes who will represent the country at the African Championships to be held at the same venue on November 22-27.
Team Kenya will be seeking to defend their title won in 2019 in Rades, Tunisia where they topped the medal standings with 40 medals — 31 gold, eight silver and a bronze.
More events are lined up today including the 15km road race, 10,000m walk race, 3,000m steeplechase, 5,000m women’s final and 800m finals (men and women).
For More News And Analysis About Kenya Follow Africa-Press
