Zimbabwean Olivia Beamish and Algeria’ Mohamed Ferkous were the winners in women Youth and Men Youth respectively in day two of the ongoing CAC Road Cycling African Championships in Kisumu.
Beamish, who won bronze last year in Diani, Kwale County, upgraded to gold this year in the women’s youth road race after clocking 1:18:00, competing in Women Youth 38.2km to clinch the continental title ahead of Rwanda’s Gloria Agasaro and Jehovaire Liza who settled for silver and bronze.
Beamish, who settled for bronze at the 2025 edition in Diani, was delighted to have climbed a step higher on the podium.
Beamish was equally impressed by the demands of the Kisumu course, which tested the riders’ technical skills and endurance with its succession of corners, climbs and descents.
Kenyan’s sole representative Naomi Jeptanui, a silver medallist in the junior women’s race at the National Championships, endured a difficult outing, finishing ninth in 1:27:46.
In the men’s youth road race, Kenya’s Mickelson Kinjah also struggled to make his mark, finishing 12th in 1:55:30.
Algeria stamped their authority on the Men Youth 58.6km contest, with Mohamed Ferkous clinching gold in 1:51:54 ahead of compatriot Farouk Ouadani, who clocked 1:51:52, while Egypt’s Mohanad Ali Mohamed completed the podium in 1:51:53.
Selected medalists
Women Youth 38.3km
1. Olivia Beamish (Zimbabwe)-1:18:00
2. Gloria Agasaro (Rwanda)
3. Jehovaire Liza (Rwanda)
Men Youth 58.6
1. Mohamed Ferkous (Algeria)-1:51:54
2. Farouk Ouadani (Algeria)-
3. Mohanad Ali Mohamed (Egypt)