Titus Kiprotich and Maurine Jepkoech have emerged as the new 10,000m champions at the ongoing BingwaFest national finals.
The two standout athletes were officially awarded on Friday during the event’s grand opening at Mamboleo Stadium, Kisumu, following their victories at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Stadium in Siaya.
For their triumphs, Kiprotich and Jepkoech each pocketed Sh400,000, part of the Sh12 million prize pool set aside for athletics in the multi-discipline sports extravaganza, which concludes tomorrow at Mamboleo.
In the men’s 10,000m final, Kiprotich surged ahead in the last lap to cross the line in 28:19.3, edging out Ribert Kiprop (28:22.2) and Kenneth Kiprono (28:24.4), who finished second and third, respectively.
On the women’s side, Jepkoech clocked 33:22.8, narrowly beating Miriam Chebet (33:23.5) and Mercy Cherono (33:24.1).
The top five finishers were rewarded handsomely: runners-up earned Sh350,000, third-place finishers took home Sh300,000, while those in fourth and fifth received Sh200,000 and Sh100,000, respectively.
Titus Kiprotich awarded.
In the 5,000m contests, Amason Sampao and Loice Chepkemoi claimed top honours in the men’s and women’s categories. Sampao clocked 13:36.6 to outpace Victor Kipruto and Nehemia Kirui, while Chepkemoi won in 15:30.4, just ahead of Caren Jebet (15:31.3) and Daisila Cherono (15:31.8).
Winners in the 5,000m walked away with Sh350,000, with second and third places earning Sh250,000 and Sh200,000 respectively. Fourth and fifth placers received Sh150,000 and Sh100,000.
In the 1,500m, Ronald Kipkorir (3:35.9) triumphed in the men’s race, followed closely by Mathew Kipsang and Ngeno Kipngetich.
In the women’s category, Purity Chepkirui clinched the win, with Miriam Cheprop and Vivian Chebet rounding out the podium.
Meanwhile, Mercy Oketch, a key member of Kenya’s 400m relay team for the upcoming World Athletics Relays in China, dazzled with a winning time of 51.4 seconds.
Maurine Jepkoech awarded.
She was followed by Mercy Chebet (51.8) and Gladys Jepkemboi (52.3).
In the men’s event, Zablon Ekwam clocked a blistering 44.5 seconds to win ahead of Kelvin Kipkorir and David Sanayek.
