Athletics Africa Magazine

Paul Tanui cruised his way to victory in the 12km men's senior race at the National cross country trials held today at the Uhuru Gardens. In the women's senior race Linet Masai was too strong for her competition.

Hundreds of mourners turned up to lay silver medallist David Kiprono Lelei to rest on Friday. A contingent of elite runners, Athletics Kenya national officials and MPs Elijah Lagat, Peris Simam and Jushua Kutuny attended the burial ceremony in Kapsabet, Wareng District. Among them were four-time Boston Marathon winner Catherine Ndereba, World 3,000m record holder Daniel Komen and former Commonwealth Games 800m champion Japhet Kimutai. Athletics Kenya chairman Isaiah Kiplagat, a member at the IAAF Council, conveyed condolences from the world-athletics governing body, saying Lelei had left a mark in global athletics circles. Kiplagat called on retired athletes to take up agent roles claiming most foreign track and field agents had little understanding about the sport. “I am calling on you retired runners not to sit back and watch as foreigners mess up with athletics. You should take up responsibilities as agents and we will bring all the resources home,” said Mr Kiplagat. Former World 10

UTEP's Nigerian athlete Blessing Okagbare has been honoured by the league as this week’s Conference USA Female Athlete of the Week Okagbare earned her second automatic bid to the NCAA Indoor Championships next month after clocking a time of 7.22secs in the 60m dash at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational. The Sapele, Nigeria native’s time broke a 10-year old meet record, tied for first in the nation, earning the Frank Sevigne Female Most Valuable Performance of the Meet. The All-American also posted an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 200m dash, running a 23.52 and earning gold medalist honours. Okagbare earned her first automatic bid to the NCAA Championships in the long jump on Jan. 23 at the Texas Tech Invitational with a leap of 6.59m (21-7.50). This is Okagbare’s second athlete of the week honour this season and third of her career. Okagbare and the Miners return to action as they enter Aggie territory this Saturday 13th for the Texas A&M Challenge at College Sta