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Former World Cross-Country champion Irene Cheptai will lead a host of other big names from the North Rift Athletics Kenya region to the national trials ahead of World Championship in Doha, Qatar.

Cheptai showed her prowess to win the 5,000m after shrugging off stiff  competition from her Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Beatrice Cheserek to seal her place at the national trials during the region’s track and field championships at Kenyatta Stadium in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County at the weekend.

Returning from maternity leave, Cheptai, who finished seventh at the 2017 World Championships in London, won in 16:08.44 followed by Cheserek (16:20.14) as Edna Cherotich completed the podium in 16:45.12.

“I was using this event as part of my preparations for speed work,” said Cheptai, who will be competing in 10,000m at national trials.

In the men’s 5,000m, Elgeyo Marakwet’s Daniel Simiyu won the race in 13:35.73 ahead of Michael Kibet in 13:44.05 and Robert Kiprop (14:04.01) who settled for second and third in that order.

First Lady half marathon champion Brilliant Jepkorir and upstart Shadrack Kipng’etich will also be gracing the trials after winning the 10,000m race.