Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Samuel Chebolei and Joyce Chepkemoi say their tactics paid off as they went into history books as the new national cross country champions following convincing victories in the senior 10km races at the championships held on Saturday at the Lobo Village in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.

Chebolei, the former two-time consecutive national Under 20 winner, said tactics differentiated him from the rest of the field.

He said he had decided to stay behind the pack to test his rivals and after learning their pace, he decided to take advantage and move to the front
“It is rare that you win a junior title and graduate immediately and perfectly into a senior title. The secret is you must know how to run such kinds of races that have highly tactical athletes. You have to gauge your rivals pace as you either keep it slow or fast. I pulled them along after the first three laps since I didn’t want a sprint finish event,” said Chebolei, who was representing North Rift.

He won the race in 28:28.9, beating Kennedy Kiprop from Western who timed 29:35.2 with Central Rift’s Vincent Kiprotich clocking 30:02.6 for third place.

Chebolei is ambitious he will make Team Kenya for the World Athletics Championships due July 15- 24 in Oregon, United States.
“I want to represent Kenya in the 5,000m. I want to challenge the very best from the world,” he said.

In the women’s competition, Chepkemoi narrated how she had stayed out in the cold as she waited for the elusive title.

“Those who know me can attest how many attempts I have made to be called the national champion. It had not been possible until today,” said the Kenya Defense Forces athlete.

The 26-year-old Chepkemoi beat heavyweights like World Marathon champion Ruth Chepng’etich, World 5,000m silver medallist Margaret Chelimo and two-time World Under-20 3,000m steeplechase champion Celliphine Chespol to triumph after taking command in the last two laps. She win in 34:00.0

Chelimo finished second in 34:01.0 with Chespol clocked 34:23.3 to finish third to continue her remarkable comeback journey from injury.
“I want to dedicate this outstanding title to my mother Jane Kuto. I couldn’t have made it this far without her support,” she added.