Olympic 5000m silver medallist Hellen Obiri claimed her second victory of the Athletics Kenya Cross Country Series in the senior women’s 10km in Machakos on Saturday (17).

The line-up assembled for the penultimate race of the 2016-17 series was the strongest of the season but Obiri broke clear of Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon on the penultimate lap and built up a winning margin of approximately 100 metres on the last circuit.

“I am not in my best shape yet and I hope to hit the right form ahead of the World Cross Country Championships,” Obiri told reporters after the event.

Obiri stopped the clock at 33:29 with Kipyegon finishing second in 33:47 in her first race since the track season. This was also her first competitive outing at a distance longer than 8km and like Obiri, Kipyegon is aiming to make the Kenyan team for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships Kampala 2017 next March.

Kipyegon, who has twice won the world junior cross country title, would have started as the arguable pre-race favourite in 2015 but she was forced to miss the biannual event staged in Guiyang due to an injury which she picked up after winning the always competitive Kenyan Trials.

Kipyegon’s older sister, Beatrice Mutai, rounded out the podium in 33:56 while former IAAF world half marathon champion Gladys Cherono made a solid return from a back injury to finish fourth in 34:24 ahead of former world junior cross country champion Pauline Korikwiang in fifth (34:31).

In the men’s senior 10km, Rio Olympian Charles Muneria took the plaudits in 29:33 ahead of Peter Emase (29:46) and Bernard Muia (29:53) while Shadrack Langat and Edna Jebitok won the men’s 8km and women’s 6km junior races.

Cornelius Kangogo clocked 28:19 to win the 45th Corrida Pedestre Internationale de Houilles 10km, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, on Sunday (18).

With his win, the 23-year-old Kenyan became the third most prolific winner in race history with three victories, equalling the tallies of Fernando Mamede and Micah Kogo, but behind Jacky Boxberger who won the event four times and well behind Khalid Skah, who triumphed on eight occasions.

Even though Kangogo lowered his 5000m lifetime best to 13:10:80 in May, it was difficult to gauge his form as he hadn’t raced since early September.

Yet from the outset he illustrated his ambitions as the man to beat. He took the lead about two minutes into the race along with 20-year-old Franco-Swiss Julien Wanders, the French U20 record over the distance.

The large leading pack hit the first kilometre in 2:51, suggesting a possible finish time of about 28:30. After passing the three kilometre checkpoint in 8:35 Kangogo made his first move, breaking up the field behind him.

Nine runners were then at the front including Kangogo, Wanders, Ethiopians Jemal Yimer Mekonnen and Dawit Fikadu, Bahraini Al Mahjoud Dazza, Burundi’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo, Ugandan Abdallah Kibet and the British pair Dewi Griffiths and Ben Connor.

Kangogo then slowed the rhythm leaving Wanders in command. The lead pack hit the midway point in 14:20 with Kangogo appearing strongest. He tested his opponents with another big move in the sixth kilometre, but the pace again slowed allowing the pack to regroup.

With three kilometres remaining, Griffiths and Connor drifted back, leaving seven in contention.

A kilometre later the lead runners waited to see who’d make the next move. Wanders ratcheted up the pace but didn’t manage to pull away, with Kangogo matching his move.

The race came down to a fierce sprint over the final 300 metres. As he did a year ago, Kangogo unleashed a strong kick to win in 28:19. In a blanket finish, just one second separated the first five across the line.

“I’m very happy to win for the third time,” said Kangogo, who was credited with the same time as Mekonnen, Dazza and Ndikumwenayo. “I tested the other athletes several times and then I awaited the sprint.”

Wanders wound up sixth, just three seconds adrift of Kangogo. “I’m very happy because I beat the senior Swiss record of 28:25,” said a delighted Wanders who shouted with joy when crossing the finish line. “I wasn’t that far from the victory but they were too strong. It will be for another time.”

KIBIWOT SMASHES WOMEN’S COURSE RECORD
In the women’s contest, Viola Kibiwot produced an impressive solo run in her first 10km on the roads.

The Kenyan, who was fourth at the 2015 World Championships over 5,000m, promptly established a huge lead over Briton Katrina Wooton, a gap that she extend to more than twenty seconds after seven kilometres.

Kibiwot didn’t fade in the waning stages, eventually crossing the line in 31:14 to smash the previous course record by 14 seconds. Her performance ranks her as the ninth fastest over the distance on the roads this year.

Following successes in 2013 and 2015, Cornelius Kangogo of Kenya will be looking to win for a third time at the Corrida Pedestre Internationale de Houilles, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, whose 45th edition will take place in the north western suburbs of Paris on Sunday (18).

Last year Kangogo sprinted away from Ethiopia’s Haymanot Alewe to regain his crown over the 10km course clocking a 28:10 personal best. Even if Alewe won’t be in the running in Sunday’s race, Kangogo will nevertheless face tough opposition, starting with Dawit Fikadu.

The Ethiopian, 21, prevailed in 10km contests in Rio and Casablanca earlier this year, improving his PB by eight seconds in the latter in May with his 27:56 run.

Fikadu has already shined on French roads as he won the Paris Versailles 16 km last year. He appears to be the main protagonist to counter Kangogo’s bid but it’s hard to gauge his form. Kangogo hasn’t raced since early September but he did improve his lifetime best in the 5000m on the track to 13:10:80 earlier this year.

Ethiopia’s Yimer Mekonnen, who was runner-up at the Istanbul 15km in November, cannot be ruled out in the battle for the podium.

Other podium contenders include Kenya’s James Kangogo, who won the Cross de Hyères last month and Abdallah Mande of Uganda. Mande finished third in Houilles last year with a 28:20 career best, and showed good form in early October with his victory at the Giro Al Sas in Trento in 28:47.

The gods of rugby seemed to be on Kenya Sevens’ side yesterday in South Africa during the second leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens in Cape Town.
William Ambaka carried forward his impressive form from Dubai by scoring the first try in the first two minutes of the match.

Augustine Lugonzo’s failed conversion would haunt Kenyans a minute later when French captain Terry Bouhraoua touched down just below the post followed by a conversion to put his side in the lead.

However, the Europeans were caught napping by the sensational Billy ‘The Kid’ Odhiambo who picked the ball out wide and sprinted past the French defence to score just below the post. Lugonzo did not miss there after as the game stopped at 12-7 for half time break.

In the second half, Ambaka embarrassed new substitute Stephen Parez with his trade mark hand off that left the French helpless as the Kenyan sprinted to the try line.

Tension and anxiety swept across the Kenyan ranks when Lugonzo was sent to the sin bin for a two-minute interval but coach Innocent Simiyu brought in Dan Sikuta for Ambaka.
Sikuta’s impact was immediate as he set up Leonard Mugaisi for Kenya’s fourth try as Lugonzo returned to the pitch. Cyprian Kuto’s pace and skills came in handy as he ripped the French apart by sucking in all their defenders on his way to the try line. Bouhraoua’s final try was inconsequential; Kenya won 33-14.

In last year’s inaugural Cape Town Sevens, Kenya lost 26-28 to France in the Main Cup 3rd place play offs.
Then came the grudge match; with memories of Singapore Sevens Final still fresh in minds of both Kenyan and Fijian players, the question was who would have the last laugh this time.

Last season Kenya beat Fiji to lift Singapore Sevens title.

However, with Samisoni Viriviri, Emosi Mulevoro and Sevuloni Mocenacagi all starting for in Fiji the Kenyans literally battled to get their hands on the ball.

Simiyu’s charges were stunned by an on-song Fijian side scoring three tries without any response from Kenya for a 21-0 lead before debutant Martin Owila scored a consolation try to give Kenyans hope ahead of the break.

The second half was filled with entertaining and dramatic moments as Kenya produced a stirring show to match Fiji inch for inch.

Nelson Oyoo scored a quick try to reduce the deficit to 21-12 before picking a neat pass from Brian Tanga. Oyoo ducked past Fijians but Sevuloni Mocenacagi held onto his shorts as he struggled to touch down.

Television replays showed that Oyoo’s toe was on the line to deny him the all-important try.

Fiji scored another try to widen the gap but Kuto responded by taking advantage of a disorganised Fiji defence to score his second try of the day.

Lugonzo’s missed conversions let Kenya down as the match ended at four tries apiece for both teams.

The game ended 28-22 and in the final pool B match, Kenya beat Japan 24-5.

Felix Kiptoo Kirwa and fellow Kenyan Rebecca Kangogo Chesir took top honours at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on Sunday (4).

In what was expected to be a battle among experienced marathon runners, Kirwa waited until the closing stages to make his move and pull off a surprise victory.

With the start time having moved to 4:30am to avoid the highest temperatures of the day, the race started at a conservative pace as a large lead pack went through 5km in 16:05, 10km in 32:30 and 15km in 48:28.

Fifteen men – including Kirwa, two-time Singapore champion Kenneth Mungara, 2012 Singapore winner Kennedy Lilan – were still in contention as half way was reached in 1:09:24, making it clear that the course record of 2:11:25 would survive another year.

During the course of the following 10 kilometres, with 30km being passed in 1:39:00, the lead group had been whittled down to 10. The field continued to gradually reduce as the pace started to pick up during the closing stages.

Lilan was among the three men to drift off the pack before the 35km mark, leaving Kirwa, Mungara, Paul Kangogo, David Kipkorir, Robert Kiplimo and Luka Chelimo out in front. With just a few kilometres remaining, only Kangogo, Kirwa and Kipkorir remained in the lead pack and it became apparent that the race would go down to the wire.

Kirwa, brother of Olympic marathon silver medallist Eunice Kirwa, proved to have the strongest finish as he sprinted away from Kangogo to cross the line in 2:17:17, three seconds ahead of his compatriot. Kipkorir finished third in 2:17:32 while Mungara was fourth, a further minute behind the leading trio.

The national women's football team fell 3-1 to the Black Queens of Ghana in their opening match of the Africa Women's Cup of Nations at the Stade de Limbe in Cameroon on Sunday.

Esse Akida gave Kenya the lead with a stunning volley in the 23rd minute before second half goals from Suleman Samira, Elizabeth Addo, Boakye Portia ensured the Black Queens grab the three points to run out victors in the match.

Starlets, making their first ever appearance at the Women's Cup of Nations, found themselves on the back-foot early on as Ghana launched a tirade of attacks in the early spell of the match before Akida struck to give the Kenyans a shock lead. Akida's goal was Kenya's first ever goal at the Cup of Nations.

Starlets coach David Ouma started with the same line up that did duty and won 1-0 against Egypt in a friendly match on October 28, starting with Mary KInuthia, Akida and Christine Nafula upfront, while relying on the defensive quartet of Ann Aluoch, Dorcas Shikobe, Elizabeth Ambogo and Wendy Achieng at the back.

Akida and Ambogo were outstanding throughout the match, but it is Ghana's Addo who tormented the Starlets for 90 minutes.

Akida's goal acted as a stern wake up call for the Black Queens who have vast experience on the continental front but the Starlets held on to head to the break leading 1-0.

Greek based midfielder Paul Were scored the only goal of the match at the 51st minute to bring to a total of eight matches in which stars have gone undefeated.

Harambee Stars dominated the match throughout the entire session and could have gone ahead on the eleventh minute when they lost a series of opportunities.

On the 18th minute Michael Olunga failed to change the scoring, after failing to make use of a perfect cross by Ayub Timbe.

Six minutes after the second half kick-off, Erick Johanna’s through ball to Paul Were changed the scoring to one nil.

It was also a good result for Stanley Okumbi who has not registered a loss for the stars since taking reigns as the teams head coach in February of this year.

The Kenyan side had recorded a similar results against Mozambique in an international friendly on Saturday barely 5 days ago when Eric Johanna scored the lone goal.

A four-woman race after just a kilometre, by the halfway point it was down to a duel. Not long after that, Kenya’s Flomena Cheyech Daniel was cruising all alone to victory in the Saitama International Marathon, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, on Sunday (13).

Cheyech pulled away from an ailing Ethiopian Amane Gobena after 25 kilometres to win in a race record of 2:23:18 for her sixth career title and first in Japan, where she spent four years from 2007 running for the Uniqlo corporate team.

“Today I’m very happy to win here as Japan is my second home,” said the 34-year-old Cheyech.

Gobena, affected by an upset stomach, held on to finish second in 2:25:58 in the second edition of the race in this city 30 kilometres northwest of Tokyo. Kenya’s Monica Jepkoech was third in 2:28:56 and Ethiopian Atsede Habtamu fourth in 2:29:44.

Mizuho Nasukawa was the top finisher among a thin Japanese contingent, winning a last-stretch dash with Australia’s Cassie Fien for fifth place in 2:33:16, a time that will hardly be good enough to earn a place on Japan’s team for the IAAF World Championships London 2017.

For Cheyech, the victory ended a marathon title drought dating back to her gold-medal run at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Her winning time was also the fastest since she posted her personal best of 2:22:44 in winning the Paris Marathon that same year.

“I have not won a marathon and not run such a time [for a while], so I’m very happy,” said Cheyech, who finished fifth in Tokyo and second in Amsterdam in 2015, and sixth in Boston earlier this year. “I prepared for this race for about five months.”

After Ethiopia’s Atsede Baysa won last year’s inaugural race in 2:25:44, organisers tweaked the course to eliminate some of the tougher hills. But they left enough to Cheyech’s liking.

“This course was very nice,” she said. “As I’m used to when I train in Kenya, we always use up-and-downs most of the time.”

In adding to her career victories in Porto Alegre, Vienna, Toronto, Paris and the Commonwealth Games, Cheyech also got a boost from her former team and friends in the host country, with whom she had a chance to renew acquaintances.

An early first half strike by Erick Johanna was enough for Stanely Okumbi’s men to see of Mozambique in an international friendly match played today at the Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi

Harambee stars started the match with a swift counter attack in the 10th minute that saw the Mozambique goalkeeper spill a shot by Michael Olunga who rebounded it to Captain Victor Wanyama who shot it over the bar missing the post narrowly.

Harambee Stars finally got their goal five minutes later; Antony Akumu released Erick ‘Marcello’ Ouma on the left and the Gor Mahia leftback put in a low cross that was met by Erik Johanna who cooly slotted the ball home to give Kenya the lead. Micheal Olunga could have made it two nil five minutes later but his free header was inches over the bar.

Mozambique pressed hard for an equalizer and were forcing the stars defense to concede fouls and corners but the Stars put up a good defensive fight that made the match end at 1-0.

Jackson Limo knows full well it won’t be easy defending his Blom Bank Beirut Marathon title on Sunday (13).

On that occasion at this IAAF Silver Label Road Race, he had dropped the competition by 35km and eventually crossed the finish line with a staggering two-minute margin of victory in 2:11:04, a new Beirut record.

Inspired by his training partners, who include Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, the Kenyan star says he is seeking the honour of becoming the first man to win back-to-back titles at this event, which this year features IAAF President Sebastian Coe as its official starter. Limo would also like to improve both the event record and his personal best which has stood at 2:09:04 since 2014.

Elite Athlete Coordinator Hussein Makke has assembled quite the cast of characters eager to upset Limo’s plans.

“Every year we are trying to improve and bring in some higher level athletes,” Makke said. “We have been successful the last two years. When the athletes leave Beirut they leave with smiles and that helps. But we still have the target to improve the image overall and continue hopefully to attract higher and higher quality athletes. I’m very, very pleased with the men’s field.”