David Shungea and Mary Nyaruai are the new senior men and women Nyandarua County Cross Country champions after winning their respective races at the weekend.

Shungea who trains at the Chima training club in Ndaragwa lead his race from start to finish, clocking 30:15.5.

The race that was flagged off by Governor Francis Kimemia, began on a fast pace that saw runners form one line in the first kilometre.

By midway, it was evident that the race was for Shungea to lose as he had already opened an unassailable gap.

A 2007 World Cross Country participant, Paul Mutero occupied the second spot for the better part of the race until he was overtaken by Robert Ngacha with two kilometers to go.

The Japan based Mutero who was using the race to build his speed with an aim of improving his personal best in half marathon and full marathon blamed humidity and wind for finishing third.

“I had covered 21km in training early in the morning before coming for this competition.

I’m happy my body did not show any fatigue from the morning run,” Mutero who participated in the 2007 World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, as a junior said.

Ngacha finished second in a time of 30:44.4 while Mutero clocked 30:49.6 to secure third spot.

The winner in his part said, “I pray that this be my year of wearing national colours by making the team for World events like the Africa Cross.” 

The competition held at Ol Kalou Arboretum, in Ol Kalou town, selecting a County team to take part at the Central Region championship set for the same venue on February 6.

Peter Kamau, 31:11.1, Stanley Njihia 31:13.0 and Michael Kamau 31:17.7 finished in that order for position four, five and six respectively.

Nyaruai who is among the few athletes from the Turkana community living in Nyandarua and Laikipia, had an easy time in the 10km senior women race as she took the lead just 700 meters into the race and never looked back.

Nyaruai, running for Nyandarua West sub county, won the race in 34:56.7, a head of second placed Veronica Maina 35:43.3, Mercy Chepkurui 36:12.2, Esther Ndung’u 37:03.4, Lucy Wambui 37:16.1 and Pauline Eapan finished sixth in 37:51.6 to be in the County team.