Kipsang and Chepkirui secure Kenyan double in Cardiff

World 5000m finalist Mathew Kipsang kicked to victory at the Cardiff Cross Challenge, while 17-year-old compatriot Cynthia Chepkirui made it a Kenyan double at the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold event at Llandaff Fields on Saturday (8).

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The senior men’s 9.6km contest began with a large lead group setting a steady early pace. After 2.5km, Kenyan trio Stephen Kimutai, Victor Kimosop, and Mathew Kipsang were joined at the front by Britain’s Zakariya Mahamed, forming a quartet that quickly established control.

By halfway, Britain’s Jacob Cann and Richard Slade had bridged the gap, creating a breakaway pack of six.

Kipsang took command at about 6km, gradually stretching the lead as the chasing group began to splinter. One kilometre later, Cann and Slade began to fade, leaving Kipsang, Kimosop, Kimutai, and Mahamed to battle it out for the podium.