Korir wins Sirikwa classic cross
John Korir ruled the roost at the fifth edition of the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country held at Lobo Village in Eldoret, delivering a commanding performance in a tightly contested men’s race.
The Boston Marathon champion expressed delight after storming to victory, describing the win as a timely confidence booster ahead of his marathon campaign.
Korir, who is building up to the prestigious Boston Marathon, said the race offered him a perfect opportunity to assess his fitness.
“I’m feeling good and I came here to see how my shape is and I’m happy. My target is the Boston Marathon and I came here to see how my body would respond,” he said.
In a surprising twist, the soft-spoken long-distance runner revealed that the Sirikwa Classic was his first-ever cross country race and he made it count.
“This is my first cross country and I’ve won it and I feel good. I was not expecting to win,” he added.
Korir clinched victory in a mouthwatering contest, clocking 29 minutes 44 seconds to edge Amos Kiprotich in a dramatic photo finish.
Kiprotich and Silas Senchura both timed 29:46, underlining the intensity of the battle on the demanding course.
The emphatic win now shifts Korir’s focus firmly to Boston, where he will be hoping to carry his strong form from the cross country circuit to the roads.
