Front-running Jepchirchir soars in Ottawa 10k

Peres Jepchirchir and Rebecca Chesire took first and third positions in the Ottawa 10k in during the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend in Ontario, Canada.

This victory follows on the heels after another spectacular performance by Winnie Chebet in the Toronto Marathon 10k race category on earlier this month.

Leading from the gun to the tape; Jepchirchir clocked a time of 31 minutes 28.9 seconds to register the win worth C$8,000 (Ksh 618,741.19) for first place, plus a C$2,000 (Ksh154,685.30) bonus for prevailing in the  Ottawa Race Weekend gender competition, a contest between the elite female and male racers.

“I knew it was hot, so I was saying it was better to run faster in the first stage,” said Jepchirchir, who had placed second a year ago behind compatriot Gladys Cherono but ran 10 seconds faster.

“If I would not have done that, I would have run a better time.”

The 22-year-old practically slowed to a halt before reaching the finish line, and she crumpled to the pavement just a few metres later under a sweltering humid weather.

She was attended to by medical personnel for several moments before being taken to a recovery area in a wheelchair.

In the Men 10km category Kenya’s Simon Cheprot came fourth with a time of 29 mintues 10.8 seconds. The event was won by Mohammed Ziani of Morocco with a time of 28 minutes 36.5 seconds.

The event was marked by pomp and colour with a lot of Kenyans in Ontario turning up to cheer the Kenyans led by Kenya High Commissioner in Canada Ambassador John Lanyasunya.

In congratulating the winners; CanKen Sports Club President Eliud Lagat underscored the importance of athletics as a means of marketing Kenya’s positive image abroad especially now that the country need to rally together as a nation to forge a good image in the region and internationally.

“As Kenya approaches a politically charge election period, athletics will act as a neutral ground that will help the country draw closer and identify with a sport that makes every Kenyan feel proud and patriotic of their country both locally and abroad,” he added.

He urged Kenyans to focus more on many issues that unite rather the few that divides the nation.

CanKen Sports Club is planning a number of events in collaboration with its partners including Kenya Tourism Board (Canada) and Kenya High Commission in Canada to promote Tourism, Kenya’s brand image, as well as opening up of new markets for Kenyan exports in North America and beyond.