SILVER AT LAST

World Mountain Running
trophy
1. J. Wyatt (NZL) 55:03.8
2. Toroitich (U) 55:16.0
3. Arslan (TUR) 55:26.6
15. Aliwa (U) 57:44.8
93. Busienei (U) 1:03:46

World Athletics Final
3000mSC
1. P. Koech (KEN) 8:05.35
2. Kemboi (KEN) 8:15.32
5. Kiplagat (UGA) 8:16.58

5000m
1. E. Soi (KEN) 13:22.81
2. Kipsiro (UG) 13:23.02
3 M. Kogo (KEN) 13:23.37
8 B. Kiprop (UG) 13:36.33

BY NORMAN KATENDE

MARTIN Toroitich won his first individual medal after finishing second in the World Mountain Running trophy in Switzerland yesterday morning.

Toroitich, who celebrated his 25th birthday last week, was on course in the IAAF-sanctioned race at the picturesque Sierre Crans-Montana, fighting to become the first non-Kenyan and Ethiopian to win the senior men race trophy. Geoffrey Kusuro won the junior men’s trophy last year.

Toroitich, with Moses Aliwa and Wilson Busienei, kept up with the leading pack, though Busienei dropped off by the half-way mark, leaving any hope for any tangible results on the other two in the 20km race.

By about 2km to go, Aliwa left Toroitich to battle with New Zealand’s Jonathan Wyatt and Turkish Ahmet Arslan until the last 1km when Wyatt broke off and was followed by Toroitich to the finishing line 13 seconds later.

Moses Kipsiro also salvaged some pride as the outdoor season climaxed after finishing second in the 5000m of the World Athletics Finals during the day two action yesterday afternoon.

Abraham Chepkirwok had earlier finished second in the 800m event on day one of the action.

Boniface Kiprop finished 8th in the same race while Benjamin Kiplagat was fifth in the 3000m steeplechase race.

After failing to claim a podium finish in the just-concluded Beijing Olympic Games, when he settled for fourth place, Kipsiro stepped up gear in the chilly conditions, and this time kept with the leading pack in the slow-paced race, whose only life was at the home stretch when the battle for the winner’s position intensified.

With 50m to go, it was Kipsiro and Soi in the lead, with Soi successful defending the title he won last year.