62 | Sports Wednesday May 17, 2017 | DAILY NATION Athletics > Kenya Police Service national championships off to interesting start Sandra Chebet, 19, turns up as a civilian runner and shows experienced policewomen dust BY AYUMBA AYODI [email protected] eenager Sandra Chebet exhibited I have no Tclass and talent to crush an experi- intentions if enced field for victory joining the Police in women’s 10,000 me- force, I only graced tres race as the Kenya this event to test my Police Service Athlet- endurance ahead of the ics Championships fired off yesterday at national trials for the the Nyayo National World Championships.” Stadium. Sandra Chebet The 19-year-old Chebet, a silver medallist at the World Under-18 champion in the 2,000 metres, had onships last year in Poland. the arena cheering after George Manangoi, a younger she broke away from the brother to World 1,500m silver pack with five laps to go medallist Elijah Managoi, Abed- to win in a commanding nego Chesebe, Collins Cheboi fashion of 34 minutes and and Gilbert Kwemoi won their 19.2 seconds. respective 1,500m heats to qual- Former World Under-20 ify for the finals due tomorrow. Championships 3,000m CHRIS OMOLLO | Cheboi posted the fastest semi- steeplechase champion and DAILY NATION finals qualifying when he won his record holder Ruth Bosibori Sandra Chebet heat in 3:40.0, beating Dominic (Coast) had led the race for (left) and Mutuku with the second fastest 20 laps before Chebet, who Stacy Ndiwa time of 3:44.7. competed as a guest, stepped (662) lead the Manangoi won his heat in 3: on her gas pedal to swing to pack yester- 45.6 while Chesebe clocked 3: the lead with Bosibori, 2010 day during the 45.5 to take his heat. Africa 3,000m steeplechase Kenya Police Kwemoi timed 3:48.1. bronze medallist Lydia Rot- Service Na- Steeplechase finals tional Athlet- World Cross Country Cham- 19xx Age of Sandra ics Champion- pionships’ mixed relays gold Chebet, ship’s 10 000 medallists Caroline Chep- winner of metres final koech and Winfred Mbithe the 10,000 metres title at the Nyayo performed well in the women’s at the Kenya Police National Sta- 1,500m races to storm the final Service national athletics dium. tomorrow. championships yesterday. Chepkoech, who settled sec- ond in 3,000m steeplechase in Doha a fortnight ago, having ich (Nairobi) and Stacy Ndiwa claimed fourth places at the (Police College) same race at the 2015 World Chebet, who hails from Youngster Championships and Rio Ol- Lemotit Training Camp in ympics, won her race in 4:18.3 Londiani, widened the gap while Mbithe settled second in 4: between her and Ndiwa, who 23.2 in her race won by Caroline charged past Rotich at the bell Tuigong in 4:22.9. before winning by a margin Today will witness the of close to 120 metres on the guns down women’s 5,000m and 3,000m opening day. steeplechase finals. Ndiwa settled second in 34: World 3,000m steeplechase 37.2 with Rotich wrapping up the champion Hyvin Kiyeng will last podium place in 34:38.5. battle in the 5,000m with the Bosibori slumped to sev- 2013 World 5,000m silver enth in 35:11.5 while former Police aces medallist Mercy Cherono and champion Lucy Kabuu, who is Africa 5,000m champion Mar- also the 2006 Commonwealth said Chebet, who said she will the country in senior races, garet Chelimo. 10,000m champion, failed to either take a shot at the 1,500m having represented Kenya twice The 2015 Diamond League finish the race. or 10,000m at the trials for the in World Under-20 Champion- Series steeplechase cham- “I have no intentions if joining World Championships which ships races. pion Virginia Nyambura will the Police force, I only graced will be held from August 4 to She finished 11th at the World face-off with Commonwealth this event to test my endurance 13 in London. In case Chebet Cross Country Championships Games champion Purity Kurui ahead of the national trials for succeeds, it will be the first last March in Kampala and fifth and Tuigong in the 3,000m the World Championships,” time she will be representing at the World Under-20 Champi- steeplechase final. Florence, Keitany turn down London call-ups CONTINUED FROM PAGE 61 2016 London Marathon but a World Championships. Marathon, and reserve Purity I wasn’t considered (in the “I will have wasted a lot of Rionoripo, the reigning Paris Keitany finished second in Kenyan team),” said Keitany, time in recovery hence it’s wise Marathon champion. personal best 1:05:13 at the Ras the New York City Marathon if I am to give someone else a “It will be tricky filling the Al Khaimah Half Marathon on champion. “I have punished chance,” said Kiplagat, who women’s team since we shall February 10 before going for my body enough and I need hopes to be in shape to defend need at least two more athletes,” the full marathon record in some rest… I believe we still her Chicago Marathon title in said Mutwii adding that they will London. have credible and good talent October. The women’s team now only need one replacement in “I had prepared well for Rio out there.” remains with two times world men’s team. London Marathon Olympics (last year) having Kiplagat said that two months champion Edna Kiplagat, who champion Wanjiru has accepted not punished by body at the will not be enough to prepare for is fresh from winning Boston his selection..