World Under 20 1,500m champion Wilson Chepkwech, Bramwel Chesala and Purity Munyalo produced an emphatic display winning gold medals in athletics at the ANOCA Zone V Youth Games at Kenyatta University, Nairobi today.
Chepkwech won the 1,500m boys title claimed gold in 3:46.81 by defeating Ethiopia’s Wabi Wejra Seblega, who secured silver in 3:52.83, while Uganda’s Cheptoek Timothy settled for bronze in 4:00.04.
“When lining up for such races, I usually avoid having tension and just focus on psyching myself up. I always want to be motivated to win and it always works out well on my end,” Chepkwech said after the race.
Chasala dominated the boys’ 200m final, storming to victory in 22.43 seconds to grab gold with Uganda’s Muhwezi Abraham Lincoln (22.66s), while South Sudan’s Faisal Alafi Lino completed the podium with a bronze-medal effort of 22.98s.
Munyalo, who produced a gold-medal leap of 4.96m in the girls’ long jump final ahead of South Sudan’s Asumpta Philip (4.36m) and Uganda’s Apiyo Michele (4.34m) to secure the title.
Complementing the victories were strong podium finishes from Winnie Jepchumba, Cecilia Njeri, and Tabitha Wanjiru Mwaniki.
In the girls’ 800m final, Winnie Jepchumba clinched a silver medal for Kenya, clocking 2:09.11 behind Ethiopia’s Nesanet Selmon, who took gold in 2:07.01. Rwanda’s Abizera Sonia Eli-Elohe captured bronze in 2:11.41.
Cecilia Njeri earned another silver for the hosts in the girls’ 5000m walk race final, crossing the line in 27:56.46. Ethiopia’s Neima Nuredin Juhar took gold in 27:18.41 in the two-competitor clash.
Rounding out Kenya’s podium collection on Day 1, Tabitha Wanjiru Mwaniki earned bronze in the girls’ 3000m final with a time of 9:42.30. The race was won by Ethiopia’s Yordanos Tsigab Berha in 9:36.64, with Uganda’s Chelimo Keren taking silver in 9:41.72.
“I’m happy with a podium finish, but I want to improve on my time. I had trained well, and I want to do a lot of speedwork and long runs,” Mwaniki, who trains in Nakuru, said.
Summary of Day 1 Kenyan Podium Highlights
Gold: Wilson Chepkwech (Boys’ 1500m) — 3:46.81
Gold: Bramwel Chasala (Boys’ 200m) — 22.43
Gold: Purity Munyalo (Girls’ Long Jump) — 4.96m
Silver: Winnie Jepchumba (Girls’ 800m) — 2:09.11
Silver: Cecilia Njeri (Girls’ 5000m Walk Race) — 27:56.46
Bronze: Tabitha Wanjiru Mwaniki (Girls’ 3000m) — 9:42.30