Marathoner Wacera’s protégé dominate Laikipia West secondary schools athletics games

Previously unknown in the sporting world, Starehe secondary school of Nyahururu town was catapulted to the limelight during the Laikipia West sub county secondary schools first term games when its runners dominated athletics competition.

During the games held on Saturday, the school registered wins in the girls’ 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m and 5000m, an achievement the school’s assistant games teacher Nick Cheruiyot attributed to a partnership between the school and Nala Track Club, a girls athletics training camp associated with marathoner Mary Wachera. Members of Club study at the school.

“This competition is just a start of (the school’s) good fortunes to come. We expect better result in future considering the girls are in form one,” said Cheruiyot.

The teacher said, they expect good performance by the school’s athletes at the Laikipia County secondary schools competition set for Nanyuki in a fortnight.

The stars of Starehe were Lucy Regina who dominated in 1500m (5:34.4) and 3000m (10:20.7) and Millicent Chelagat who won 800m in (2:30.8) and 400m in one minute and 05 seconds.

Some selected results of the Sub County athletics competition held at the Nyahururu stadium were; 10,000m boys (1) Pius Kibichi from Karandi secondary school (33:28:3) (2) Immanuel Kemboi from Gatero Day (35:30:2).

The 5,000m girls was won by Jane Muchira (19:22:5) followed by Salome Jepkangor (20:43:5) while the boys corresponding 5,000m was won by Dasmin Kipkoech (18:14:7) followed closely by David Ionok (18:17:4).

The 3,000m for girls went to Lucy Regina (10:20:7) followed by Jane Asur (11:40:5). Paul Waweru won the 3,000m for boys (9:51:5) followed closely by Denis Rotich (9:52:7)

The Laikipia County Secondary Schools Sports Association secretary Paul Waweru said the team that will be selected in Nanyuki will be in the league of other champion counties like Uasin Gishu.

“We are very proud as Laikipia County because this time round we are going to be at equal level with counties of champions,” said Waweru.

Waweru said Laikipia will host the second term regional ball games that will bring together the 14 counties of Rift Valley region. Nyahururu will be the host town.