Kenya team to this year’s Senior Africa Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana returned to the country with a heroic welcome.
The athletes won a total of 17 medals-5 gold, 5 silver and 7 bronze to finish second behind South Africa who collected 22 medals (9 gold, 4 silver, 9 bronze) in a one week long championships held at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.
With the victory, the focus now shifts to the Commonwealth Games as Assistant team manager Albert Lagat praised the team for their performance.
Belinda Adhiambo Oburu won bronze in shot put at 16.39m behind South African Uyis Collette (17.63m) and Gabon’s Mekam Carine (16.71m).
Kelvin Chesang won the first gold for Kenya in the 10,000m at 28:30.44 with Silas Senchura coming home with bronze.
It was similar, Diana Wanza won the 10,000m gold in 31:33.26 with Kelvin Kimutai Loti winning gold in the 800m at 1:45.47.
Julius Yego won the javelin tile at 79.87m then Edwin Too conquered the gruelling multi-event discipline to win a sensational silver medal in the men’s decathlon.
Diana Chepkemoi led a 1-2 Kenyan finish in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, taking gold in 9:29.185 then Mercy Chepngeno Koskey settled for silver in 9:30.460.
In the 20km race walk events, both the men and women secured podium finishes. Silvia Jerono Kemboi 1:33.44, while Stephen Ndangiri Kihu mirrored that stellar performance to take silver in the men’s race in 1:20.01.
Team Kenya Medalists in Accra
Gold
Kelvin Loti — 800m
Kelvin Chesang — 10,000m
Diana Wanza — 10,000m
Julius Yego — Javelin
Diana Chepkemoi — 3000m Steeplechase
Silver
Mercy Kosgei — 3000m Steeplechase
Edwin Too — Decathlon
Stephen Ndungiri — 20km Walk
Silvia Kemboi — 20km Walk
Men’s 4x400m Relay
Bronze
Asbel Kiprop — High Jump
Silas Senchura — 10,000m
Belinda Oburu — Shot Put
Laban Kiptoo — 5000m
Isaac Ndute — Long Jump
Women’s 4x400m Relay
Mixed 4x400m Relays