Ngii for gold and Silver for Gathimba in 20km race walk at Africa Games

Emily Ngii retained her Africa Games 20km Race Walk to win the first gold for Kenya at the ongoing Africa Games in Accra, Ghana.

She defeated Ethiopia’s Teshager Masire to second and Azzi Soud of Algeria for bronze with another Kenya Sylvia Kemboi finishing 4^th.

Ngii clocked 1:37:34 at the 19km mark with Masire and Soud clocking 1:38:07 and 1:45:42 respectively.

This was Ngii’s second title after winning the 2019 edition in Rabat, Morocco in 1:34:41 after improving from silver in 2014 during the championships in the same country.

Samuel Gathimba was relegated to silver after failing to defend his 2019 title he won in Marrakech in 1:28:06 behind Ethiopia’s Misgana Fekansa, who timed 1:28:05 and Algeria’s Ismail Benhammouda claimed third place in 1:31:12 with Dominic Ndigiti secured fourth place in 1:34:51.

The four Kenyans have set their focus on the World Relay Walk race in Turkey on April 21.

Selected 20km race walk results

men

1. Misgana Fekansa (ETH) 1:28.05
2. Samuel Gathimba (KEN) 1:28.06
3. Ismail Benhammouda (ALG) 1:31.12
4. Dominic Ndigiti (KEN) 1:34.51
5. Melese Ayana (ETH) 1:35.15
6. Ndebele Sizwe (RSA) 1:38.08

Women

1. Emily Ngii (KEN) 1:37.34
2. Sintayehu Masire (ETH) 1:38.07
3. Souad Azzi (ALG) 1:45.42
4. Sylvia Kemboi (KEN) 1:41.20
5. Jessica Groenewald (RSA) 1:49.17