Joseph Okal and Meagan Irungu led Kenyans in dominating today’s Africa Duathlon Cup in Kilifi, taking top positions ahead of Africa Triathlon Cup tomorrow.
Okal timed 1:03:14 to clinch victory in the men’s elite category leading from the first transition and maintaining his composure through the final run segment of 00:38:01 beating compatriot Lewis Kinyua to second in 1:03:24 while David Wanjiru completed the podium in 1:04:39.
“I had a very fast transition where I caught up with the guys there and picked it up from that point,” said Okal who trains in Eldoret’s Kazi Mingi.
“That made a big difference today. I lost a few seconds on T2 but recovered well in the final run. At some point, it stopped being about time and became about mental strength.”
Kinyw said: “I wasted a lot of time in the transition, but with experience we learn. The bike course was a little tough, the road bumpy, but I kept going. Sprint distance is harder because I’m used to longer races.”
Irungu claimed gold in women race with a strong work in transitions had given her the platform she needed.
Irungu powered to victory in 1:13:56, her smooth transitions and composed running giving her the edge over the field like compatriot Bernice Kariuki followed in 1:19:07, improving on her previous performances with a strong cycling leg with Adell Wamalwa rounded off the podium in 1:29:04, holding off a late push from Iman Kaiza, who finished fourth in 1:35:20, to cap a spirited display in the humid Kilifi conditions.
“The race was a bit scary; the other girl took off, but I just kept going and going,” she said. “The secret for me is transition — I practice it for a week before the race so that it’s always fresh. It worked for me,” said Irungu after finishing second in the Under-23 triathlon last year.
Kariuki said: “I got position two, and I’m impressed,” she said. “The road was better today, no punctures. The difference was in the bike I’ll work more to get better. Transition is the fourth sport. The more you do competitions, the more you perfect it.”
Team Kenya’s assistant coach Alphan Mwanyika praised the team’s spirit and government backing, saying the sport’s future looked bright. “The sport is growing at a very high rate if we put in high training products, nutrition, and facilities,” he said.
“Kenya is a running country — with proper training programs, diet, and equipment, we can go far. I thank the Ministry and the government for the support because reaching this stage takes a lot.”
Triathlon Kenya President Joyceline Nyambura also stressed the importance of hosting such continental events locally, which allows Kenyan athletes to earn ranking points at home and reduces the burden of travel.
“Our Kenyans did well, especially those who made it to the podium,” she said.
“Triathlon is growing, and we thank the government for supporting local hosting so our athletes can earn points at home. As a federation, our goal is to grow the sport at the grassroots and introduce it more in schools,” she went on.
The Africa Duathlon Cup concluded on Saturday ahead of the Africa Triathlon Cup on Sunday, both organized by Triathlon Kenya, Africa Triathlon, and World Triathlon.
Africa Duathlon Cup Day 1 Results
Elite Men
1.Joseph Okal – 01:03:14
2.Lewis Phineas – 01:03:24
3.David Wanjiru – 01:04:39
4.Hamza Bashir – 01:06:07
Elite Women
1.Meghan Irungu – 01:13:56
2.Bernice Kariuki – 01:19:07
3.Adell Wamalwa – 01:29:04
4.Iman Kaiza – 01:35:20