Habari za Wiki - 16 February, 2021
Kenya’s Cross Country Was Muddy!!
Sheila Chelangat leading the women’s race. Photo Credit: Michelle Katami
Kenya's cross country event included a water and mud obstacle that was about 50m, an uneven course, tough weather conditions and plenty of competition. That’s exactly how Cross Country should be, and the athletes put up such a brilliant show.
Sheila Chelangat took on the women’s race from the onset but the rest were hanging on her back. She won the race in 34:56 with Daisy Cherotich hot on her heels in 35:00 and Ruth Chepgnetich in 35:03. You can watch the senior women's 10km race here (it’s the 2nd of the two in that video)
The men's race was talent packed and it did not disappoint. It was billed as a Kamworwor v Kandie showdown, but played out very differently. Michael Kibet took an early lead, but then Kandie taking over. In the meantime Geoffrey Kamworor dropped out of the race, bested by the tough course. Then a surging Rodgers Kwemoi snuck by Kandie to win in 31:04 with Kandie crossing the line in 31:06 and Edwin Bett at 31:10 in third. You can watch the men's race here.
Kibiwot Kandie leading the men’s race. Photo Credit: Michelle Katami
Chepkoech Breaks 5km World Record in Monaco
Chepkoech at the line. Photo credit: Global Sports Communication
3000m steeplechase world champion and world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech is now also the new 5km world record holder. Chepkoech ran a very impressive race from the onset on a sunny but windy winter day in Monaco to set the new world record of 14:43 beating Sifan Hassan, the former World Record holder by one second. Chepkoech’s world record now awaits the usual ratification process.
This win comes off a strong indoor campaign, where she finished two times on the podium in a World Tour and set a new personal best for 3000m.
At the same event Kenya’s Bethwel Birgen – an indoor specialist on his debut finished second in the men's 5km event with Davis Kiplangat rounding out the top three in 13:17 and 13:19 respectively. They were beaten to the tape by by Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei in 13:14.
Kenyan Victories in Luxembourg and Belgium
In Luxembourg at the CMCM Indoor Meeting on Saturday the 13th, Kenya’s Collins Kipruto won the 800m indoor race in 1:46.83, snatching the win at the line from Spain’s Mariano Garcia who clocked 1:46.86. Kenya’s Josephine Chelangat Kiplangat won a similarly close women’s 1500m, clocking 4:09.40 to finish 0.06 ahead of teenager Edinah Jepitok.
In Belgium at the IFAM Gent Indoor Kenya’s Vincent Keter - who paced well the 3000m indoor event in Lievin on Tuesday - ran from start to finish to win the men’s 1500m in 3:42.95
Torun World Indoor on Wednesday
Fresh from breaking the world record in 5km, Beatrice Chepkoech will be lining up for the 3000m indoor at the Copernicus Cup to be held at the Arena Toruń in Poland. Beatrice lost to Ethiopia’s Lemlem Hailu at the Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-De-Calais in Lieven and we would like to imagine her recent world record will give her the confidence she needs to reclaim the 3000m indoor title.
Other events where Kenyans will participate will be 800m and the men's 1500m. Watch the indoor meet live here from 20:00 EAT / 18:00 CEST / 12:00 Easter US.
Non-Kenyan News
Unstoppable Gudaf Tsegay!
Just five days after smashing the world indoor record in the 1500m on Tuesday, Gudaf Tsegay broke into the all-time top 10 in the 800m when she crossed the line in 1:57.52 at the Meeting de L'Eure at the Jesse Owens Arena in Val-de-Reuil, France on Sunday. Her performance was a national indoor record and second to Maria Mutola's 1:57.06 on the African all-time list. She is on fire. Watch her 1500m victory here.
NN Mission Marathon
11 April in Hamburg, there will be a one-off marathon to give athletes the best possible chance to secure a qualification mark for the rescheduled Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Under the tagline ‘The fastest way to Tokyo’, it is hoped the race, which will take place around a looped 10.5km city centre route, will attract around 100 invited elite athletes. Although Kenyans do not need to worry about Tokyo qualifications (as most top athletes already have the Olympic standard, and the national team is hand picked), we are sure of Kenyan athletes being among the 100 invited athletes to compete in this marathon.
Call for Lifetime Ban for Abusive Coaches
Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse is something that has been talked about in all sports around the world. In the UK, more than 200 athletes have signed an open letter to UK Athletics chief executive calling for permanent bans for coaches found guilty of abuse.
The campaign was started by three British athletes when they raised concerns about temporary bans being handed to coaches who breach their licences in the context of physical or sexual misconduct, harassment, or abuse.
American Records Fell in New York
The New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on Saturday offered a return to competition for some of the best track and field athletes in the world some competing for the first time in several months, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And the athletes made the most of this racing opportunity by breaking three American records and 10 national records total.
From The Enda Community
Owen Grant Innes is a Canadian visual artist who just made this beautiful piece of art. He says: “A digital sketch for ENDA ….A brand story which truly inspires me.”
