After missing representing the country at the World Athletics cross country championships that were concluded last Saturday in Bathurst, Australia, Marion Jepngetich came out guns blazing with victory at East Africa Under 20 championships trials held at the Nyayo stadium.
The young runner from Kamwosor Athletics Club in Elgeyo Marakwet county won the 5,000m women's race to book a slot at the East Africa Youth championships that will be staged next month in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
“After missing the chance to run for Kenya, I did not lose hope but I went back to training more for this event and I thank God that I have won," Jepngetich said.
"God gave me strength because I had cut the team for World cross but I missed the visa and decided that I will not lose. I kept training harder and it has given me a win,” said Jepngetich.
She said that she wants to feature at the regional championships next month to prove her worth on track and improve on time.
“This season I want to represent Kenya at the East Africa athletics championships. But my main focus is to improve on my time which I am targeting at 15:42 in 5,000m,” she said.
Jepngetich won the women’s 5,000m title during the national trials at the Nyayo national stadium as Athletics Kenya seeks to field 31 athletes for the regional championships.
She won the title in 15:51.29 edging out Diana Cherotich (15:51.33) and Mokwo Girls’ athlete Maureen Chepkoech (15:52.85) sealing the podium positions.
In the senior race finals, Rukia Nusra Omulisia won the 100m hurdles women's race at the same venue.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) runner, Nusra won the title in 14:04 ahead of Kenya Police Veronicah Chebet (15.28) and individual athlete Gladys Muthoni Ngure in 15.55.
Wiseman Were Mukhobe and Michael Musyoka Nuku were the men’s semifinal winners.
The KDF officer Were won in heat one after clocking 14.12 beating compatriot William Mbevi Mutunga to second in 14.92 as Southern runner Benedict Nzina was third after clocking 16.02.
In the second semifinal, Musyoka won the race in 14.35 followed by John Kyngo (15.73) and Edwin kiptanui Too to third in 15.87.