Olympic 5,000m silver medalist Hellen Obiri won the first gold for Kenya today in the second day of Africa Senior Athletics championships in Assaba, Nigeria.
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The Commonwealth 5,000m champions beat Ethiopians at the Stephen Keshi stadium romped into victory in women’s 5,000m in 15:47.18 ahead of Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi (15”54.48) and Meskerem Mamo (15:57.38) who settled for silver and bronze respectively.
The Laikipia Base based runner led as former world junior champion Lilian Kasait (16:04.51) and Loice Chemning (16:25.78) settled for fourth and fifth positions.
The 5,000m world champion’s gold was Kenya’s first medal at the games after men lost the 10,000m to Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer, silver medallist Andumalak Belihu and Uganda’s Timothy Toroitich (29:11.87) took bronze as Kenya’s Vincent Rono (29:14.52).
After running the world lead at the London Diamond League, Emmanuel Korir will lead Ferguson Rotich and former world under 20 champion Jonatha Kitilit in 800m finals on Friday.
In 400m finals, Jared Momanyi and Alphas Kishoyan will be in action in women’s 1,500m and men’s steeplechase with world and Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto tipped for gold in the latter.
The Confederation of African Athletics is picking the continent’s team from these championships for the Continental Cup competition between the continents which will be held in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on September 8 and 9.