Joseph Njoroge clocks the 4th fastest Double 15k (10k+break+5k) ever this morning in Thika Kenya

Joseph Njoroge (blue jersey) from Ngong Athletics Club was the overall winner of the Second edition of the Double Race that was held in Thika on Wednesday morning.

The 18-year-old Nyandarua-born Njoroge clocked 29:56.17 in 10Km before caping the event with 14:43.93 to emerged top in 44:40.10 in the new race that is gaining ground in Kenya.

Local ace Zakariah Kirika, 21, who trains with the host Kenyan Athletics Training Academy (KATA) in Thika, combined 45:25.31 to finish second splitting 30:28.54 in 10Km and 14:56.77 after the break.

In women, Newcomer Caren Chepkemoi from the Thika based Training Academy won the lady’s category in 59:50.76. She timed 40:14.97 in 10km and 19:35.79 followed by training mate Susan Njeriwho fished second in combined 1:00.01.68 in the race organized by Kenyan Athletics Training Academy.

62-year-old Charles Ndirangu who trains at KATA smashed the 60-69 world best clocking 55:11 for the two legs.  His splits were 37:04 for 10k and 18:07 for 5k.  

“The double Race tests athletes’ endurance. They must do 15Km split into 10Km and 5Km. This is separated by 1hr 45min break from the start of the 10Km race and beginning of the 5Km leg.  Times are added together for scoring.  The leaders after the first leg wears the yellow jersey so everyone knows who is leading going into the second leg," explained Bob Anderson,mthe creator of Double Racing and the chairman  of the Double Road Race Federation based in Mountain View California USA. 

This was the second Double Race after the first was held in September last year during the official opening of the KATA that now hosts 15 athletes.

The KATA 10Km monthly Time-Trial resumes on October 15th in Thika.  There is no entry fee charged and all runners are invited to join.  

posted Wednesday September 14th