Three athletes Grace Miroyo Kidake, Simon Lokiru Losiaboi and Albert Njoroge won three medals each over the weekend during the Speed Masters Athletics Challenge held in Shkodra, Albania.
Kidake won three gold medals in the 800m, 400m and 200m in the W35 women class, while Lokiru competing in M50, won gold medals in 400m and 800m while settling for bronze in the 200m as Njoroge won two gold medals in men’s M65 in both the 400m and 800m.
With the victory, the Athletics Kenya Masters Secretary General Dr. Rose Tata Muya said that the trio will at the World Masters Athletics Championships and the World Masters marathon championships set for August and October.
Tata, who also serves at the President East Africa Masters said that the duo of Lokiru and Kidake had sold their animals to self sponsor their trip to Albania.
“Our two athletes Grace kidake and Simon loiseaboi took part during Speed Masters Athletics championships. Both sold their cows for their expenses to make Kenya proud with more than 20 Countries competing at the championships,” said Tata.
With the great performance, she said that the trio will lead the country at the World Masters Championships as well as World Masters marathon. The World masters Championships will be held in August 13th to 25th in Sweden while the marathon will be staged in Romania.
“These athletes are our potential medals prospects for both the World Masters Marathon championships and the World Masters Athletics Championships. They have proved beyond our imagination,” said Tata.
In the 800m, Kidake clocked 2:21.91 for the title after edging out Great Britain’s Sara Ellen who was second in 2:46.75 and South African Luvya Binland for third position in 3:11.32. She followed another victory in the 400m after clocking 56.12 ahead of Ellen again to second at 1:16.30 compatriots Jeniffer Temple who timed 1:17.69 before completing the triple in the 200m after timing 25.75. She defeated Great Britain’s Krystle Balogun (26.80) and Roisin McBride in 27.30.
“As a country, we were supposed to send 22 athletes who were but only three manaed to travel by facing off with athletes from 30 nations,” she added.
With the introduction of Grandprix in the Masters Athletics, she said that they will have a big contingent of athletes at next year’s Florida World Indoor Masters Championships.
Lokiru won the M65 men 800m title in 2:09.74 beating Algerian duo of Kouider Bouregba (2:27.91) and Hamid Mohamed (2:39.65), before winning his second gold in the 400m at 56.92 followed by Orlando Alves from Portugal in 57.50 and Great Britain’s Mark Mcallister completing the podium at 58.51 and managed to settle for silver in the 200m behind Mcllister (25.46) who managed to set a good revenge followed by compatriot Paul Allan in 27:49 and Lokiru’s 27.74.
Njoroge won the M65 800m gold in 2:29.01 followed by Polish Andrej Macio (2:42.72) and Shefget Terziu of Albania at 3:12.87 before completing the double in the 400m at 1:07.31 in a race that attracted two athletes only with hosts’ Ylli Alushi winning silver in 1:25.91.
Selected Speed Masters Challenge results
800m men
M65 men
1. Albert Njoroge (KEN) 2:29.01
2. Andrej Macio (POL) 2:42.72
3. Shefget Terziu (ALB) 3:12.87
M50 800m men
1. Simon Lokiru Losiaboi (KEN) 2:09.74
2. Kouider Bouregba (ALG) 2:27.91
3. Hamid Mohamed (ALG) 2:39.65
W35 800m
1. Grace Miroyo Kidake (KEN) 2:21.91
2. Sarah Ellen (GBR) 2:46.75
3. Luvya Binland (RSA) 3:11.32
M65 400m men
1. Albert Njoroge (KEN) 1:07.31
2. Ylli Alushi (ALB) 1:25.91
M50 400m men
1. Simon Lokiru Losiaboi (KEN) 56.92
2. Orlando Alves (POR) 57.50
3. Mark Mcallister (GBR) 58.51
W35 400m
1. Grace Miroyo Kidake (KEN) 56.12
2. Sara Ellen (GBR) 1:16.30
3. Jeniffer Temple (GBR) 1:17.69
M50 200m men
1. Mark Mcllister (GBR) 25.46
2. Paul Allan (GBR) 27:49
3. Simon Lokiru Losiaboi (KEN) 27.74
W35 200m women
1. Grace Miroyo Kidake (KEN) 25.75
2. Krystle Balogun (GBR) 26.80
3. Roisin McBride (GBR) 27.30