Fresh from winning the Ultra Trail 23km Mountain Run in South Africa, Mountain runner specialist Isaiah Kiriago won the 10,000m title at the ongoing Kenya University Sports Federation (KUSF) national games in Eldoret.
Coming from Kisii University, Kiriago won the 10,000m title in 31:29:7 after defeating Evanson Kipkirui of Maseno University (31:58:1) and Dan Lolngojine from JKUAT closing the podium at 32:24:3.
With focus to compete at the Tinderet Mountain Run in January next year, Kiriago said: “It was great winning the 10,000m race. It was easy because I have been training and competing in mountain running. I fell down but I managed to immediately regain my momentum.”
Angela Miriam won the women’s 5,000m title. Representing Maseno, she crossed the finish line in 20:11:47 ahead of Magdaline Chepchumba of Kibabii (20:1.88) and Ruth Biwott, representing Embu (21:43.60).
With sprints finals set for tomorrow at the same track, national 400m champion George Mutinda is set to show his skills in the race after winning today heats.
The Embu based runner won heat 3 in 47:36 followed by Jacob Jorim of JKUAT and Collins Kipchirchir of Kenyatta University at 50:04 and 50:48 for second and third places respectively.
In basketball girls, the Kenya Basketball Federation premier league side The United States International University (USIU) side, the Flames edged out their league counterparts The University of Nairobi side Dynamites in the opening fixtures on Wednesday morning.
In counter match, Flames won the match in 51-26 against Dynamite in what Flames coach George Mayenge described as friendly encounter.
Mayenge said thag winning an opening match is a good sign in the championships.
“We thank god for winning the opening game against our neighbours the University of Nairobi.
We are still waiting for more this is another way of building friendships,” said Mayenge.
Be added that they played and won the match but they remain friends, not enemies because basketball is a game of cycles.
“I need to see the see the game he or she playing so that I can make mine better. If we lose, we learn from the mistakes to improve on. If we win, we still push it up because you’re the target since each team will come for you,” added Mayenge who is eying to retain the title.
With KBF delayed league set to start in February, he said: “I have players who have not graduated but we have three to four freshers and I hope to get more freshers by January.”
“I cannot speak about league starting. Though it has delayed, and we have KUSF where our girls and boys will play waiting for the league.
In men’s basketball, the KBF Division One side KU Pirates defeated their hosts The University of Eldoret 85-61 in the opening fixtures.
Captain Briann Musembi, they had a good but tough game against their hosts which was a good thing as they prepare for league.
“It’s a good win for the boys who played and won against worthy opponents and we are using KUSF as part of our preparations for the league set for February 2026. KUSF helps us to execute our matches, gel well and get some compatibility, to understand each other. In the next game, we want to go harder, shoot more for victory,” he said.