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The 24-year-old is relieved to be back after a long injury lay-off
Africa Cross Country champion Cintia Chepng’eno has admitted her win at the 2024 Athletics Kenya (AK) Cross Country Series on November 2 was a pleasant surprise.
Her decision to compete in the third leg of the annual series was mainly to assess her fitness levels as she eyes a comeback after a long injury lay-off.
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12:30 - 02.11.2024
Cynthia Chepngeno claims a fiercely contested victory in the women's cross-country in Iten
The women's race was a tight a contest as Cynthia Chepngeno was pushed all the way by Gladys Chekoech and Catherine Reline.
“I have been out for a while since the World Cross Country Championships (in Belgrade) where I suffered a muscle injury. I did not expect to win. I came to test my fitness levels but winning was a pleasant surprise,” the 24-year-old said.
Chepng’eno clocked 34:27.4 to win the senior women’s 10km, cutting the tape ahead of Cardiff Half Marathon champion Miriam Chebet (34:28.5) and world half marathon bronze medalist Catherine Reline (34:29.7) in second and third respectively.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) runner said she was worried about Reline who was favourite to win the race, making her to adjust her tactics. “Looking at the start list and seeing the name of Reline, I knew it was going to be very competitive. It was a sprint to the finish and I took my chance,” she said.
Chepng’eno said she will return to intense training as she bids to get her body back in shape but remains unsure if she would compete in the subsequent legs of the cross country series.
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13:15 - 02.11.2024
Robert Kiprop claims victory in Iten Cross-Country as Asbel Kiprop comes second
The pair of Robert Kiprop and Asbel Kiprop were miles ahead of the competition as the duo battled it out for supremacy in the historic Iten ground.
“I want to go and work on my speed because that’s one area I feel needs to improve. My focus is on getting better. At the moment I am not thinking about upcoming competitions. I am not sure whether I will compete in the other legs of the series. This is something I must discuss with the coach to know what he thinks,” she said.
The win was her second this year after she clocked 32:32 to win the senior women’s title at the Africa Cross Country Championships in Hammamet, Tunisia in February.
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