(REUTERS) - Kenya strode to gold in both the men's and women's races at the World Cross Country Championships in China on Saturday with Agnes Tirop and Geoffrey Kipsang taking their first titles.

Tirop produced an impressive start-to-finish victory over the 8,010m course in Guiyang in a time of 26 minutes and one second, leaving behind Ethiopian Senbere Teferi in the final 200m after a battle between the 19-year-olds.

Her five-second victory on an old horse racing track in southern China against an impressive field, that included twice world cross champion Emily Chebet, provided the 300th medal in the discipline for the East African country.

Kipsang, a half-marathon specialist, also had a duel as he overcame compatriot Bedan Muchiri to win in 34:52, eight seconds ahead of his rival.