By Our Reporter
Sensational athlete Boniface Kilonzo is the new Africa’s institutions of higher learning javelin king.
The reigning East African champion threw 62.99 metres to win gold at the ongoing All Africa University Games in Nairobi on Thursday, 10th June.
The three-time Kenyan University Games winner (2019, 2020 and 2022) was closely followed by Justus Kipkenda of Kisii University, who threw 52.36m to clinch silver.
John Eigege of Nigeria’s Nnamdi Azikiwe University recorded 51.36m to win bronze.
“It was just an easy victory for me, I didn’t feel any pressure in the contest,” Kilonzo underscored.
Ahead of the championships being held at the Kenyatta University (KU), Kilonzo was taken through paces by a volunteer coach from Japan, Keisuke Nakajima, to up his game.
The Japanese helped him to improve on his posture and throwing technique in the discipline.
“This is the reason I opened an over 10m gap between me my next opponent, Kipkenda, who came second,” he underlined.
“I was training at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi ahead of these games,” he added.
The 24-year-old third year Business, Information and Technology student at Mount Kenya University says he used the contest to step up training for the forthcoming World Championships cum Commonwealth Games trials to be held in Nairobi on June 24.
Asked how he feels to be the new African champion of the varsity Games, Kilonzo said: “It shows that the future is very bright for me.
“I feel I have an amazing energy that can break the world record.”
Apart from his target of the World Championships and the Club Games, Kilonzo says he will embark on preparations for the World University Games slated for China next year.
He automatically qualified for the China showpiece by the virtue of winning in his category at the ongoing Games in K.U.
In the next five years, Kilonzo wants to shatter the world javelin record that currently stands at 98m.
“I want to take it further to 100m, I’m positive that this will be duly achieved,” he said.
At the same time, Diana Wanza of Kenyatta University clocked 35:15.21 to win gold in the women’s 10000m.
Sarah Koomsen of Ghana’s University of Education Winneba (UNEDW) was second in 38:47.70 as Tsholofelo Zwane of Tshwane University of Technology (South Africa) came third in 39.01.93.
This was the second gold Wanza was winning after triumphing in the women’s 5000m finals on Wednesday.
“I decided to lead from gun to tape to ward off any strong opposition in the race.
“I really feel proud to have added two more gold medals in my cabinet after winning the All Africa University Games Cross-Country Championships at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology last season.
“Currently, my form is amazing, I feel I can do better if I get the chance to represent Kenya in the Commonwealth Games,” Wanza said.
In men’s football, clinical Makerere University of Business Studies (MUBS) thrashed University of Development of Ghana 3-0 to romp into the finals.
MUBS will contest for gold against winner of the match pitting KU and the Makerere University.
