The Roncer Kipkorir and Edwin Too duo won Kenya’s first medals at the Africa Senior Athletics Championships in Douala, Cameroon.
Roncer Kipkorir and Edwin Too have won Kenya the first medals at the ongoing African Championships in Douala, Cameroon.
Competing in the men’s 10,000m, Kipkorir had to dig deep in the Ethiopian dominated race to achieve a podium place. The Kenyan clocked 28:59.94 to cross the finish line behind the Ethiopian duo of Nibrat Melak and Gemechu Dida who finished first and second in respective times of 28:52.26 and 28:52.78.
Other Kenyans in the mix included Joseph Kiptum and Francis Abong who followed Kipkorir to settle for fourth and fifth places respectively in the hotly contested race.
There was further embarrassment at the African Athletics Senior Championships when races were started using an archaic equipment as athletes keep complaining over chaotic arrangements.
The Shanghai Half Marathon champion booked his slot to the continental showpiece after impressing at the national championships which doubled up as the trials for the event.
He clocked an impressive 28:33.00 to win the race ahead of Joseph Kiptum who finished second in 28:34.00. Stanley Njihia completed the podium, stopping the clock at 28:34.700.
However, Njihia did not go to compete in Cameroon and was therefore replaced by Abong. Meanwhile, Too was also oozed class as he fought hard to settle for bronze in the men’s decathlon.
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Julius Yego is disappointed with his performance at the Kenyan Olympic trials but has promised to bounce back at the Africa Senior Athletics Championships.
In the women’s 5000m on Friday, no Kenyan made it to the podium as Ethiopians claimed the gold and silver medals as Fantaye Belayneh won the race. Rebecca Mwangi was the first Kenyan to cross the finish line, being forced to settle for fourth-place as she lost the podium contention at the finish line.
Meanwhile, athletes have come out lamenting about the poor organisation of the event, with some African stars including Mariee Jose Ta Lou-Smith and Letsile Tebogo bidding early goodbyes to the event.
Transportation and accommodation have been an nightmare with South Africa’s US-based sprinter Shaun Maswanganyi claiming that his health was at risk as his allergies could not be accommodated.
Source link : https://www.pulsesports.co.ke/athletics/story/roncer-kipkorir-and-edwin-too-win-kenyas-first-medals-at-african-championships-2024062222294972488
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Publish date : 2024-06-23 06:13:33
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