MUMIAS, Kenya, April 20- Record holder David Rudisha and Olympics champion, Pamela Jelimo executed their favourite roles to perfection as the 6th AK/NBK Weekend Meeting kicked off at the Mumias Sports Complex on Friday.
The rated two-lap pair who are preparing for the Samsung Diamond League opener in Doha on May 11 delighted their fans despite stepping down a lung lower to the 400m discipline.
Rudisha who added the world title to his two Africa crowns in Daegu last summer gave the supporters a treat when he forced his designated rabbit, Sammy Tangui to play bridesmaid in 45.8 against 46.1 in one of the men’s 400m heats.
“I opted for this race to improve on my speed ahead of Doha,” the record holder who donned the Kenya Police team colours told reporters after topping his Defence Forces accomplice.
Alfred Kipketer from Mosoriot won the second heat in 47.8 with Jonathan Kibet taking the third in 47.9.
Jelimo, also of Kenya Police who resounded back to form with a polished World Indoor victory in Istanbul last month after enduring three seasons in the backwater clocked 54.5 seconds to arrest a field led by Forces runner-up Catherine Nandi (56.2).
Jelimo’s challenger for Saturday’s finals, Agnes Aneno from Uganda won her heat in 55.7.
Aneno is hoping to secure the qualifying mark for the Africa Senior Championships with the help of Jelimo who won the African junior title in the distance in 2007.
Olympics champion, Asbel Kiprop, brushed off injuries sustained during a fall at the fourth meet of the series in Kericho a fortnight ago to win his 1500m speciality in 3:35.04.
James Tenai, who fielded in the third heat, registered the second best time of 3: 41.07.
In the 10,000m final East Africa Secondary School titleholder Eliud Tarus clocked 30:15.5 to win the race beat Kenya Prison runner Isaac Korir (30:17.03) to the line for the victory.
In 5,000m women decider, Pamela Lisoreng beat Punta Umbria World Cross junior runner Janet Kisia of Western with the timers returning 16:21.1 against 16:19.46.