Running: Kenya: Dog Sets Pace for City Runners

Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 12:09 AM

Now that's one way to get the lead pack of runners moving...

The real winner of the Nairobi Province cross-country Championships at Telkom Club, Ngong Road, yesterday was the least expected. He was a four legged runner nicknamed Simba.

The dog paced three races and on each did 1.5 km of pacy running before dropping out.

It was a case of a dog taking on the role of a"rabbit" as distance running pace setters are commonly referred to.

A dog sets the pace during the 12-kilometre senior men's race at the Nairobi Province Cross Country Championships at the Telkom grounds on Ngong road yesterday. The dog featured in several races and set the pace with precision and without inconviniencing the runners. Photo / Mohammed Amin

By the time of the senior men's 12km race, Simba was already tired and the poor times posted showcased Simba's importance. The winner James Meli clocked 40 minutes 02 seconds, about six minutes off the pace in standard cross country time.

In the junior women's race, Simba lined up in the far right waiting for the gun. He took off at breakneck speed opening a 10-metre lead to the cheers of the fans who thought the whole drama was funny.

Simba slowed down after 500m to allow the girls to catch up and settled to their rhythm before dropping out after 1.5km.

Simba performed the same task in two more races before he decided enough was enough. So much for a dog's life. Simba, it emerged, is used by athletes around Dagoretti area during their training in the Ngong forest as a guard against muggers who prowl the area.

In the senior men's race, minus Simba, little known James Meli from Telkom Meli grabbed the lead from the second lap and held on to finish the race in a sprint, clocking 41:02. Willy Mwangi of Mashambani posted 41:13 followed by David Kileli in 41:17. International Wilberforce Talel, the only experienced athlete present, finished in n ninth position in 41:38

Gilbert Langat won the junior men's race in a sprint finish ahead of Jonathgan Munyia in 26:59 with Munyia finishing two seconds behind in the closest race of the day. Philemon Kipchumba was third in 27:01.

Runaway winner

Eunice Chepkorir was the runaway winner of the senior women's race, thanks to Simba's early pace setting in posting 30:42. Magdalene Syombua in second timed 31:01.

Nelly Chebet easily won the junior women race in 23:18.