Kiplagat fulfils expectations at the Kenya Prisons Inter Divisional Championships
– Athletics news
Silas Kiplagat, the 21-year-old Kenyan middle distance runner, who specialises in the 1500m run, is among the athletes who know well how to dominate the field. Perhaps, that is the reason that be it a national or international competition, if he is there,
any other runner is less likely to prevail in the event.
Kiplagat, the reigning Commonwealth champion, is regarded as the tenth fastest runner of all time for the distance he specialises in. Indeed, it was his grip on the discipline and his talent and potential on the field that played a crucial role in earning
him the 1500m win at the Kenya Prisons Inter Divisional Championships held in Nairobi on Saturday, June 18.
Besides, Kiplagat, the athlete who could emerge at the competition was Maureen Jelagat, the young girl who marked her victory in 400m Hurdles meet, in the two-day event organised at the Nyayo National Stadium.
As the event was local in nature in Kenya, it could not attract many quality athletes and among the given lot, it seemed rather obvious that the winner of the Prefontaine Classic Samsung Diamond League will certainly outdo his rivals at the Prisons championships.
The results that followed the event exactly matched the expectations of spectators and organisers.
Though, besides a standard field, Kiplagat also had to face scorching heat in emerging as a potential threat to his competitors, but he conquered both quite emphatically and impeccably. He finished the race in three minute and 39.2 seconds. The only close
rival who could give him tough time was Fredrick Musyoki, who also managed to secure a second position for clocking three minutes and forty seconds. With a difference of 0.1 seconds, Dominic Mutuku secured third place on the podium.
When requested to share his comments about the win, Kiplagat, however, went on to dwell upon his countrymen, who, to him, could emerge as strong candidates for the upcoming Daegu competition. Talking about his own chances to appear at the World Championships,
he said that it was all dependent upon the decisions of the national team officials.
He said, “At the moment, the runners to watch in the race for Kenyan ticket for Daegu are Haron Keitany, Asbel Kiprop, and Nixon Chepseba. I am confident I will be in the form I was last year when the Trials come.”
He added that before the big event, he will be looking forward to contest in two other important events and it is his performance in those two events which will bring in the final verdict of the national team officials about him participating in the Daegu
Championships or not.
Just like Kiplagat’s performance, the athlete who made the women competitions more vibrant was Jelagat, who not only emerged as winner in the event but also hindered Elizabeth Muthuka, the former national champion in the 400m distance, from marking her dominance
on the field. With clocking a 53.5 seconds effort, she placed herself on the top of the podium, while the rest of the top- two positions were gained by Muthuka (56.4 seconds) and Pamela Cheuno (58.4) seconds.
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