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Vincent Ng’etich and Judy Chepng’etich won the 10km and 5km races respectively during the Saba Time Trial race that has resumed after a two-year hiatus occasioned by the Covid-19 outbreak.

 The top 15 performers got a financial token from the organiser during the event held at the weekend.

 Ng’etich clocked 29 minutes and 23 seconds to win the race that had several stars including some Japan-based runners who are in the country for holiday.

 He blamed the windy condition and dusty rough road for his failure to break the course record that stands at 28 minutes and 36 seconds.

 “I could have gone faster if the conditions were right,” Ng’etich said.

 Behind Ng’etich was Nicholas Kiplimo at 29:55 and third was Samuel Karabo at 30:07. 

Finish line

Johnson Mugeni, Cyrus Muturi and Hillary Koech followed in that order at 30:16, 30:25 and 30:34 respectively.

 Chepng’tich crossed the finish line in 15 minutes and 14 seconds thus becoming the first female runner to cover the 5km distance in under 16 minutes. For her effort, she earned a Sh10,000 token from the sponsor, Korean businessman, Jang Young Ki.

 Japan based Hellen Ekalale was second in 16:21 followed by Esther Wangui and Esther Muthoni, both based in Japan, Jacinta Nyokabi and Mary Nyaruai in 16:34, 16:37, 16:43 and 16:53 respectively.

 The race which is in its fourth edition is sponsored by the Young Ki who comes to the event accompanied by several businessmen. It is held outside Nyahururu town at Siron villages in Marmanet location, Laikipia County. The 5km loop is the one John Ngugi used for speed work when he won the World Cross Country title five times, between 1986 and 1992, earning him the title “King John”.

 Nyandarua County Athletics Kenya second vice chairman Gioche Karitu who used to train with Ngugi said they used to cover the loop twice in 27 minutes.