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World Half Marathon silver medallist Bedan Karoki won the inaugural Nyahururu 10 kilometre road race at the weekend.
Karoki clocked 28 minutes 22.6 seconds to finish first ahead of steeple-chaser Emmanuel Bett who came second in a time of 28:23.2.
It was the second time Karoki was running in his hometown after finishing second at the Laikipia University Half Marathon in October.
The weekend race, sponsored by a local accounting firm, started near Mairo Inya trading centre on the Nyahururu-Nyeri road and concluded in Nyahururu town. The runners enjoyed a fairly flat course and strong back wind which could be credited for the fast times recorded.
Karoki said the race was part of his build up for the Tokyo Marathon slated for March 3.
“I am preparing for the Tokyo marathon and this race was part of my preparation,” said Karoki who has shifted his training camp from Nyahururu and Eldoret to Ngong in Nairobi.
Karoki is still waiting to win a major title, having played second fiddle to Geoffrey Kamworor twice at the 2015 World Cross Country Championships and 2016 World Half Marathon.
Bett, who enjoys running in races in Nyahururu and Ol Kalou, said he was using the race to shape up for the Diamond League calendar. Bett won the Ol Kalou leg of the Athletics Kenya Cross Country series early December to make it two in a row having won the 2017 edition.
“My event is steeple chase and this race was good for my endurance,” said Bett.
The women’s race was won by Chepkemoi Mutai in 33:34.00 after leading from gun to tape.
1.Chepkemoi Mutai 33:34.00
2.Esther Wanjiru Ndung’u 34:44.07
3.Margaret Akidor 35:02.06
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