Kenyan juniors made light work of their guests winning 17 out of 18 medals at the 24th edition of the International Schools Sports Federation (ISF) World Schools’ Cross Country Championship that the country hosted at Ngong Racecourse.
Having been affiliated to the global body in 2019, the Kenyans made a memorable debut winning on and off the course. The country’s long wait to feature at the global events came to an end with double blessings as the country impressed as hosts and competitors.
After joining ISF alongside other Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association affiliate countries, Kenya was forced to wait for four years before featuring in the global events due to the Covid-19 pandemic that halted sports activities between 2020 and 2022.
The future stars did not disappoint, making up for the lost time with six gold medals, six silver and five bronze and proving that Kenya is without doubt a global athletics powerhouse. Competing in six races, it was the girls’ U-12 team that set Kenya on the path to victory tearing apart their opponents to grab the first eight positions. Not even East African rivals Uganda who came to the competition as defending champions could stop the Kenyans from doing what they know how to do best.
Sheila Chepkosgei who had finished fourth at the national trials won Kenya’s first gold medal after cutting the tape in three minutes 53.2 seconds in the girls 1100m race. Belinda Chepkorir (3:55.1) and Dorcas Chelangat (3:57.1) completed the podium.
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The boys’ under-12 race rekindled the rivalry between Kenya and Uganda.
Uganda’s Caleb Kibet who settled for bronze would keep threatening to spoil Kenya’s party as he challenged in the leading park. However, Ezron Kimurgor broke off the pack at the 800m mark with Benjamin Shikuku following him to grab gold and silver for Kenya.
Kimurgor clocked 3:43.5, Shikuku came in 3.2 seconds later while Uganda’s Kibet finished third in a time of 3:48.8. Kimurgor said that he knew that he will excel because of the good preparations and quality training from Team Kenya coaches.
“I had faith in my abilities because our coaches trained us well and prepared us for this competition. Before the championship we were told that Ugandans were our major threat and so we have to be at our best and make the country proud,” he said.
Uganda’s Kibet was elated to have won the bronze which would be the county’s only medal saying that it was just the beginning of good things for him because he aspires to be a world class athlete like his countryman Joshua Cheptegei.
Shikuku on the other hand said that he is on a mission to break free from poverty through athletics. “I will work very hard and make it to the junior and senior Kenya teams because my main objective is to excel, help my family and improve our quality of life.”
In the girls, Under-15 category, Jane Wangari led Faith Jeptum and Claire Cheruto to a podium sweep. Wangari, a student at Kiambogo Secondary school, cut the tape in a time of 7:40.8 with Jeptum clocking 7:42.1 to take silver. Cheruto would come in 1.1 second later to secure bronze. Peter Lemuryon won the boys Under-15 3400m race gold medal in a time of 10:18.6 with Benson Kirongos (10:22.5) and Dan Kibet (10:33.5) taking silver and bronze respectively.
Kenyans extended their dominance in the Under-18 races with Diana Chepkemoi and Phanuel Kipkosegei winning gold in the girls’ and boys’ races respectively.
Chepkomoi clocked 10:47.8 ahead of Mary Nyaboke 10:51.4 who won silver and bronze. Nyaboke who is the reigning national secondary schools 1500m champion said that a second-place finish was a reward for her dedication and perseverance.
“I had an injury during the trials and I finished fifth. I put in more effort and I am very happy to have won silver because it is proof that my efforts were not in vain,” Nyaboke said.
By education News
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