Kithuka on track to victory

Kennedy Kithuka has made quite a splash in NAIA distance running since arriving at Wayland Baptist of Texas last winter from Nairobi, Kenya.

He claimed national titles in the outdoor track and field 5,000 and 10,000 in the spring.

At the NAIA nationals at Fort Vancouver on Saturday, he simply dominated a field that included defending champion Silas Kisorio of Oklahoma Christian University, finishing the 8-kilometer (4.9-mile) course in 24 minutes, 2 seconds.

“I wanted to run fast,” Kithuka said. “The first three laps I ran hard, then the final one, I relaxed and (didn’t) push hard. I finished way ahead. … Last year I was national champion in 10K and 5K, so I was confident. I like running cross country.”

Kisorio was right on his shoulder after the first lap.

After that, not so much.

The lead was about 100 meters after two laps and about double that after three. During that third lap, Kisorio dropped back from second to fourth. He eventually faded to sixth at the finish as Kithuka cruised through the final lap. Abednego Magut of Azusa Pacific was second, in 24:41.

Kithuka began running in high school in Kenya, competing in the high school national championships, but did not fare well there. He said he improved dramatically after high school and before arriving at Wayland Baptist.

Because he arrived at Wayland last winter, this fall was Kithuka’s freshman season for cross country.

He said he knew of Kisorio, a fellow Kenyan, from competition in track and during the cross country season, but not from their home country.

“I came to know him when I got to Wayland,” Kithuka said. “I didn’t know him when I was in Kenya.”

Lining up against the defending champion was not intimidating, Kithuka said, because it was hardly the first time he has beaten Kisorio.

“It was not hard for me because I had beaten him three times,” Kithuka said. “This is the fourth time now. I was feeling that I was going to win. I was confident that I would win today.”