Moses Mukono got a perfect gift ahead of the IAAF World Centenary Gala when he grabbed his third victory in the KCB/AK National Cross Country Series on Saturday.

Mukono powered away unchallenged to the tape with the Barcelona World Juniors eighth finisher (5,000m) arriving home in 24:44.09, ten seconds ahead of Walter Kipkoech (24:55.04) to clinch top honor in the men's 8km junior race.

Peter Namuria who beat him in the second meeting in Machakos a fortnight ago was forced to third in 24:58.04. Mukono also won in the opener in Nyahururu (November 3) and third round in Kisii last Saturday sandwiched between a second placing in Machakos to emerge the star of the event.

In the men's senior 12km long race, Hosea Macharinyang, a veteran of record seven World Cross appearances, put together an even more devastating front running display to win his first domestic series event.

Having been beaten by Peter Matelong in Nyahururu where he came second, the Brussels (2004), St Denis (2005), Fukuoka (2006), Mombasa (2007), Edinburgh (2008), Bydgoszcz (2010) and Punta Umbria (2011) World Cross competitor crushed his rivals in 37:24.01 for a comprehensive 14 second win.

Namesake Hosea Nailel (37:38.00) and David Maru (37:40.03) came in second and third ahead of World junior 10,000m bronze medallist Geoffrey Kirui (37:50.05) in fourth.

Kirui, the fifth-place finisher at the Kenyan Olympics 10,000m Trial in Eugene, Oregon in June 2, won the second leg in Machakos (November 10).

Walter Kororia, a younger brother of 1995 World Half Marathon winner, Shem Kororia, finished eighth in 38:50.06.

In the absence of 2010 World Cross senior women champion, Emily Chebet who had won the opening three rounds of the annual series, Magdalene Masai was crowned the champion of the 8km event.

The younger sister of the out ran the field in 29:52.01 as Barcelona World Juniors fourth finisher, Nancy Chepkwemoi (29:55.07) and Bydgozcz World Cross junior silver winner Purity Cherotich (29:57.07) sealed the podium.

The series takes a break until December 22 when Embu will host the fifth leg.