CS Amina welcomes Team Kenya after topping Africa in Mauritius
Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed received Team Kenya on Monday, June 13 at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after a masterful performance at the Senior African Championships held in Mauritius.
CS Amina was accompanied by Sports PS Joe Okudo and top officials from Athletics Kenya.
Team Kenya following a masterful performance emerged as the top most team in the medal standings.
Kenya absolutely dominated the championship, winning a total of 23 medals in all competitions. On the final day of competition, Kenya clinched a whooping five gold medals to ensure they finished top, just like they did at the last Championship in Asaba, Nigeria, in 2018.
Team Kenya
Emily Ngii, Samuel Gathimba, Julius Yego, Abel Kipsang and Jarinter Mwasya provided the gold medals for Kenya on the final day of competition.
Ngii and Gathimba clinched gold medals in the women's and men’s walk respectively, Ngii clocking 1:34:30 to finish ahead of Ethiopian Beletew Mitiku. Sylvia Kemboi timed 1:39:40 to finish third and ensure Kenya had two medals on the podium.
Kipsang, the Olympic fourth place finisher continued with his impressive start to the season as he won the men’s 1500m 3:36.57, edging out South Africa’s Ryan Mphahlele in a tight sprint finish.
Kumari Taki finished outside the medal brackets as he came fourth in 3:38.31, his last-ditch effort at edging out Ethiopian Kasaye Embaye on the line falling off.
In the women’s 800m, Mwasya clocked 2.02.80 seconds to win the gold medal ahead of Ethiopia’s Netsanet Desta. Brenda Chebet finished sixth while Naomi Korir was eighth.
In the women’s steeplechase final, Kenya once again played second fiddle to the Ethiopians with Woldemanuel Werkuha winning gold ahead of Kassa Zerfe for an Ethiopian 1-2 finish.
Kenya’s Caren Chebet was third for bronze in 9:43.64 seconds. Daniel Simiyu was second in the men’s 800m to clinch Kenya a silver medal, same as the women’s 4x400m relay team.
