Kenya stretched its middle-distance athletics dominance at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games in Senegal as a brilliant duo of Faith Rono and Wesley Kiplagat brushed aside stiff competition to strike gold and silver respectively in 3000m and 2000m steeplechase on Monday afternoon.
16-year-old Faith Rono who hails from Kericho County, was on top class as put as great show of determination to beat Ethiopia’s Tisgab Yordanos in time of 9:15.47.
The promising youngster said she had hoped to better her performance in Dakar after failing to give a good account of herself during the 2026 World U20 Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA where she finished 19th in women’s 3000m.
Rono, a grade-9-student who trains at the Lemotit Athletics Club, controlled the happenings in the first four laps until Yordan’s acceleration in the last corner of the final lap. However, the Kenyan stopped the show after emphatically dashed past her close challenger to win a gold medal for Kenya at the Complex Iba Mar Diop Stadium.
“I would like to thank God for this win, the race was good and i was determined to win a gold medal. The competition was tough for sure, I saw Yordanos try to beat me to the finish line but was unfazed by that. I let her go ahead to see her strength. She was overwhelmed and that’s how i went in front all the way to the finish. My coach had told me to lead in the first four laps to test the waters and see the competitors,” Rono said.
“I feel good winning a gold medal here because when I went to Oregon, the weather conditions were a bit harsh on me but was more motivated to come here in Dakar and deliver something special,” she added.
Uganda’s Keren Chelimo settled for bronze after clocking 9:32.41 to complete the East African podium finish.
In the men’s 2000m steeplechase, Kenya’s Wesley Kiplagat won a silver medal in a personal best time of 5:29.30. Ethiopia’s Abdo Junedin won the race following a superb tactical kick at the first barrier just after the bell to grab gold in 5:29.30. Michael Kibet of Uganda settled for bronze, clocking 5:36.50.
Kiplagat, 17, who had won a silver medal in men’s 3000m in last August at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola had his first toast of the water and barrier event. The St Francis Kimuron Student said he had a challenge at the last huddle but recollect himself to finish second.
“I tried my best after moving from 3000m to this 2000m steeplechase. I feel good to win and next time will put more effort to win a gold medal. Abdo (Ethiopian) and Kibet (Uganda) were didn’t let me breathe, I was hoping to kick in the last lap but i had some difficulties while crossing the water barrier to the bell. It was my first time competing in the steeplechase.”
The Monday after stellar performance takes Kenya’s medal tally to five (four gold and one silver) at the Dakar Games.
Medal hunt continues tomorrow with three gold medals in sight. Kenya’s youngsters will be in action 800m men,1500m women and 5000m walk race.
Women’s 3000m
1.Faith Rono – Kenya – 9:15.4750
2.Tsigab Yordanos – Ethiopia – 9:15.71
3. Keren Chelimo – Uganda – 9:32.41
Men’s 2000m steeplechase
1.Abdo Junedin – Ethiopia – 5:29.30
2.Wesley Kiplagat – 5:36.28
3.Michael Kibet – Uganda – 5:39.