Irine Kimais punches ticket to the World Championships in Budapest after dominant show at National Trials

ATHLETICS Irine Kimais punches ticket to the World Championships in Budapest after dominant show at National Trials

Abigael Wafula 13:00 - 08.07.2023

The race started off with a group of more than five women fighting for a slot to represent the country at the global show.

Irine Kimais has successfully secured a ticket to the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary after stunning a strong field at the ongoing National Trials at the Nyayo National Stadium.

In the highly-contested race, Kimais cross the finish line first as Agnes Ngetich finished second. Catherine Relin sealed the podium but she has unfortunately not qualified for the global show. 

The race started off with a group of more than five women fighting for a slot to represent the country at the global show.

After five laps, two women were leading the deep field with each of them looking strong and comfortable. Sandrafelis Chebet and Rebecca Mwangi were giving the pack a run for their money as they controlled the race from the start until the 4000m mark.

Kimais took the mantle after 10 laps but her reign was short-lived as she was overtaken by Mwangi and Chebet. Two-time Chicago Marathon champion Ruth Chepng’etich was comfortably running in the middle of the pack.

Ngetich was also keeping up with the trio of Kimais, Mwangi, and Chebet who were controlling the race. Relin was also a prospect for title contention as she was running closely behind the trio.

After 6000m, Mwangi was still in the lead but Relin was giving her a run for her money at the time. Chebet was trailing behind as she seemed to have exhausted all her energy in the first few laps of the race.

With 12 laps to go, Chebet had been dropped from the leading pack and she was running alone trying to close the gap which was now growing wider. As the race intensified, Mwangi was dropped from the leading pack and Kimais took charge as she led the pack which now consisted of seven athletes.

Chepng’etich was also dropped from the leading pack. Shortly after, Relin took charge and was now taking turns with Ngetich while leading the pack. Little-known Janeth Chepngetich was also looking comfortable in the leading pack.

With two laps to go, the leading pack had now been dropped to four athletes, Kimais, Chepngetich Ngetich, and Relin who were now sprinting. With the finish line in sight, Kimais sprinted to the finish line and cut the tape in, 31:52.21, the unofficial time.