Namibia’s Beatrice Masilingi was in groundbreaking form in the women’s 400m at the Kip Keino Classic in Kenya where she powered to a massive Personal Best (PB) of 50.99s to take the event, the fastest time ever run by an African U-18 and the fifth fastest time ever done in history in that category.
She improved her own PB set at the Crystal Gold Regional Club Challenge back in March by well over a second, while finishing ahead of Kenya’s Mary Moraa who came through for 2nd in a Season’s Best (SB) of 51.99s as Leni Shida placed 3rd in 52.77s.
In the men’s 800m, World Bronze medallist Ferguson Rotich took the initiative early and controlled the race to emerge winner in a time of 1:44.78 ahead of Australia’s Joseph Deng who clocked an SB of 1:45.21.
Wycliffe Kinyamal’s 1:45.52 was enough to secure him 3rd place.
Nelly Jepkosgei won the women’s event in 2:02.07, well clear of Eunice Sum who finished 2nd in 2:03.73 and Nalyanya Eglar in 2:04.98.
Kumari Taki tried staying with World Champion Timothy Cheruiyot on the home straight of the men’s 1500m but the latter earned a very comfortable win in a time of 3:34.31 as Taki finished 2nd in 3:35.00, while Abel Kipsang ran 3:35.43 for 3rd place.
Lemlem Halu won the women’s equivalent in 4:06.42 ahead of Winny Chebet in 4:06.78 who narrowly edged out Mercy Cherono, 3rd in 4:06.79.
In the men’s 5000m, Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli ran a very fine race, coming through to very well take the race in 13:08.32 from Ethiopian Argawi Berihu Teklehaimanot who placed 2nd in 13:08.91. Jacob Krop got 3rd in 13:11.88.
In the women’s race, Hellen Obiri held off the challenge posed by Agnes Tirop to claim victory in 15:06.36, her 2nd consecutive win over the latter who posted 15:06.71, while Margaret Kipkemboi clocked 15:11.11 in 3rd.
Meanwhile, Abraham Kibiwott beat favourite Leonard Bett to the finish in the men’s 3000m Steeplechase, gliding over the last of the barriers as he returned a time of 8:17.60 to Bett’s 8:17.63.
They both were well ahead of the rest of the field as 3rd-placed Geoffrey Kipkemboi Kirwa finished in 8:30.92.
World Record holder, Beatrice Chepkoech was head and shoulders above the rest of the field in the women’s race where she posted 9:29.05, beating Hyvin Kiyeng who had beaten her at their last showdown in Berlin, the latter running 9:34.07 for 2nd as 3rd went to Roseline Chepngetich in 9:46.14.
