Kiptum blasted to victory in 1:05.30 at the scenic and vast tea plantation beating Isaac Kipkoech to second in 1:05.35 as Daniel Kiprotich closed the podium in 1:06.3.
LAGOS marathon winner Abraham Kiptum, the man who caused a stir on social media after overpowering Nigerians in a Lagos race, Kiptum on Sunday won the inaugural Nandi Tea Half Marathon in the Nandi Hills.
Kiptum blasted to victory in 1:05.30 at the scenic and vast tea plantation beating Isaac Kipkoech to second in 1:05.35 as Daniel Kiprotich closed the podium in 1:06.3.
Shadrack Korir settled for fourth in 1:06.20 followed by Amos Kiplagat (1:06.25), Daniel Kiptoo (1:06.40), Joseph Lagat (1:06.45), Kenneth Kimathi (1:07.20), Mathew Kemboi (1:07.42) and Tony Lingangoi who closed the top ten in 1:07.48.
It was a mouth-watering battle for the top duo who commanded the race imediately after the two kilometre mark.
At the 5km mark in Namgoi, Kiptum and Kipkoech, who were 100m head of the second pack of athletes, ran shoulder to shoulder upping their pace as they climbed the undulating course.
It was at the 20km point when Kiptum’s endurance aided him into widening the gap as his opponent gasped for air.
Kiptum entered the tea plantation greeted by hundreds of spectators alongside the course in the cool and wet climate which offered a spectacular view as he entered the Nandi Tea stadium for the victory.
“I was calculating my moves and working on how to floor my opponent since we ran side by side from the start. Eventually I engaged my final gear towards the finish point as we climbed the hill. He was exhausted and I ran on to my victory,”said Kiptum.
The 2009 world cross country junior bronze medallist Jackline Chepng’eno shook off stiff competition to emerge the winner in the women’s category.
She breasted the tape in 1:14.30 edging out Jane Jelagat (1:14.53) and Edith Jelimo (1:15.48) respectively.
Violah Jepchumba (1:15.51), Vivian Kiplagat (1:16.04), Lilian Chemweno (1:17.43), Violah Jepkemoi (1:18.12), Jane Moraa (1:18.35), Emily Rotich (1:19.15) and Purity Kimetto (1:19.32) followed in that order.
Chepng’eno who was placed fourth at the 6km mark behind a leading pack upped her pace and overtook the commanders at the 7km mark and never looked back.
“The course was very hard but I managed to control my moves.It has so many hills and you can easily lose hope if your endurance is not strong,” Chepngeno said.
The athlete, who secured a silver medal in 3000m at the world Youth championships in Italy, said she is preparing for the Rio Olympics