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Young runners dominated the Athletics Kenya (AK) track and field meeting in Kisumu over the weekend.

In the two days event Moureen Cherotich emerged the winner of 5000m clocking 16.39.9 ahead of Faith Chepchumba who was timed 16.41.3 while Kenyan born turned Baharain national Roselinda Jepketer was placed third to close the top three clocking 16.49.4 after being second in 10,000m on the first day of the event.

Form Three student Cherotich from Kalyet Secondary School said she has started her journey to join the senior ranks after representing the country last year in World Under 20 in 5000m but she managed position seven.

“I want to join the seniors in either 5000m or 10000m before the world championships. I will be clocking 20 years old, I believe it is a good time for me to launch my senior race in style,” said Cherotich.

On her side, Jepketer is working hard to represent her new country at the World Championships in Budapest in the same race.

“I came to compete here as a build-up to my preparation for Budapest, which I know I will go and do my best,” said Jepketer, who trains in Kapsabet.

Big names

Nelly Chepchirchir another youngster ruled the roost in 1500m, though not her speciality, clocking 4.16.6 ahead of Purity Cherotich who came in second timing 4.19.6 as Peninah Wangare closed the podium clocking 4.20.8 in third position.

Chepchirchir said she competed in 1500m to gain speed and endurance as she prepares to compete in her speciality of 800m.

“I know we have big names like Mary Moraa in this race but as they train for it I’m also doing the same so that I do my best when the time comes for competition,” said Chipchirchir who is also headed to the senior ranks.

Mercy Chebet, 20, was placed second in 100m behind national record holder Maximilla Imali.

Imali won the race timed 11.5 ahead of Chebet who clocked 11.7 as Esther Mbagari came third clocking 11.8.

Kericho-based athlete Chebet said she will continue to train well as she is targeting to run in 800m.

“This was just a build up but I’m going now to train well for my speciality (800m). I want to perform well in my running career,” said Chebet, who trains in Kiptere.

In 400m Beatrice Machoka emerged as the winner clocking 55.6. Kalimi Mueni followed in second timing 56.4 while Grace Kidake came in third clocking 56.9.

A Form Three student at St Peter’s Keberesi High School, Machoka said she wants to emulate Moraa and break her record.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) led by the Head of Education and Research Martin Yauma said they have partnered with AK to educate athletes and other stakeholders in the form of an outreach programme.

“Awareness has been created touching on various anti-doping topics such as anti-doping rule violations, food supplements use, 2023 prohibited list and consequences of doping. Most of the athletes who have been newly enlisted in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) have also been taken through filing their whereabouts on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS),” said Yauma.