Nairobi, Kenya - World marathon record holder Paul Tergat destroyed a field
boasting many of Kenyas finest in the mens long course race at the 24th Armed
Forces Championships today.
A day after the United Nations Rome-based World Food Programme appointed him
as its Goodwill Ambassador (click here for yesterdays story), the five times
World Cross Country Champion was urged on by awe stuck fans and officials to an
amazing victory, executed with a superior game plan without equal.
On a cool fine morning, Tergat who only announced he would compete in this
race late this week, moved to the front and shadowed the early pace setters,
Commonwealth Games 3000m steeplechase bronze medallist Abraham Cherono, Kenyan
champion John Korir and former World XC short course champion Benjamin Limo, in
the first two of the six laps around the racecourse near Nairobi.
Confident of his form, Tergat moved to the front in the third lap by
overtaking Cherono as Limo disappeared from the leading group. Step by step,
Tergat lengthened his lead to 10 metres, then 20 and finally 70, to win in
37:46.