Kirui, Ninge bag Coast Region Cross Country titles

Kirui, Ninge bag Coast Region Cross Country titles

Aaron Kirui retained the 8km junior boys crown for the third year in a row while Seraphine Ninge soared to her maiden 6km junior women’s cross country title as the Coast Region Kenya Schools Sports Association, Term One Games continued on Good Friday in Mwatate.

The anticipated clash between Kirui and Josphat Kipkirui lived up to its billing as the two favourites detached themselves and shot to the front in a leading pack of six that separated itself from the rest of the field four kilometres into the race.

Kirui, a Form Four student at Tumaini Secondary School in Kwale then took off from his closest challenger in the final loop to clock 24:08 for the victory, 35 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

“My focus is the National Championships next month, where I haven’t won. I have gained a lot of experience and I’m working to rectify for my mistakes,” Kirui said. Mghana Mnyonge (24:49) took the third meda.

Ninge, a Form Two student at Mbela, Kishushe took the girls’ gold medal in a strong finish by a only a fraction from hard chasing Amina Mwakuni with the clocks returning 22:20 against 22:21 as Agnes Waki dipped for third a second adrift for bronze.

“The race was not easy. The course was hard with dusty windy conditions. I decided to go out early since I don’t have good finishing speed, and leave it for the others to try to catch up,” Ninge said.

“As a junior runner I was afraid, but staying with senior athletes has given me more belief. My target is to finish among the top three in the national championships,” she added.

Leading results

Boys (8km)

1 Aaron Kirui 24:08 Kwale

2 Josphat Kipkirui 24:43 Kwale
3 Mghana Mnyonge 24:49 Taita

4 Patrick Masha 25:00 Kilifi

5 Emmanuel Thuva 25:08 Kilifi
6 Robinson Karisa 25:12 Kilifi

Girls (6km)

1 Seraphine Ninge 22:20 Taita
2 Amina Mwakuni 22:21 Kwale
3 Agnes Waki 22:22 Taita
4 Maganga Halubva 22:46 Taita
5 Ngeti Yusta 22:55 Taita
6 Lidence Mwashighadi 23:05 Taita

Tags:

coast region Kenya Schools Sports Association Aaron Kirui Amina Mwakuni Josphat Kipkurui Seraphine Ninge

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