Deaf Athletics: Ruthless Kenya Makes Six Podium Sweeps, Takes Gold Tally To Eight
NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya scooped six gold medals on Tuesday evening at the ongoing second edition of the Africa Deaf Athletics Championships at Kasarani, Nairobi.
The country made podium sweeps in men’s 10000m, women’s 1500m, men’s 1500m, women’s 400m, men’s 100m and women’s 100m to take its gold tally to eight.
Impressive Peter Toroitich from Kapsabet destroyed the fields in men’s 10000m which was a hotly contested Kenyan affair as other nationalities could not keep up with the blazing pace by the hosts.
The Deaflympian silver medalist clocked 31:08:55 to win the race as David Kiptum (31:11:83) and Martin Ndungu (31:17:96) came second and third in that order.
“In the first edition I came second, so I went back to the drawing board, rectified my mistakes and I’m glad I’m the new African champion this evening,” Toroitich told Standard Sports after the sweet victory.
The men’s and women’s 100m became a household affair as both gold medals went to the Wamira’s.
African record holder Beryl Wamira missed her championship record by two seconds after clocking 12.89 to defend the women’s 100m contest.
Her sister, Rael came fourth in 13.63.
“My victory is due to confidence, experience, and total dedication to training,” said Beryl who also holds the continental and championships records in women’s 200m which she will defend on Thursday.
Beryl is also ranked third globally in both women’s 100m and 200m categories.
She is also passionate about venturing into the 400m fully soon.
“From now onwards, I’m going to embark on serious training for the world championships in Taipei, Taiwan next year,” she stated.
Her brother David clocked 11.39 to become the new African 100m King.
‘King’ David also prides himself as the African and Championships records holder in the men’s 200m category which he will also be defending.
“Winning this race (100m) is quite a surprise to me because I have battled a protracted injury, I was not sure of beating the defending champion (Walter Kalebu) to the gong,” said David who ups his training with his two sisters at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
” Ahead of these championships we trained a lot, we also had an amazing technical team apart from the good doctors at the two-week camp we had in Kasarani,” he added.
Deaflympian Linet Fwamba proved why she is still the African record holder to beat in women’s 400m which she easily cruised to glory in 59.94.
Fwamba attributed her victory to good and elaborate training.
“I feel I have now come of age; I want to break the world record in this race,” stated Fwamba who bagged bronze for Kenya in last year’s Deaflympics Games in Brazil.
Kenya captain Lucas Wandia led by example to win the men’s 1500m in 3:56.13, beating championship record holder John Koech (3:56.88) to second place.
The Deaflympics steeplechase champion said he was very confident in the race as he had amazing training under his coaches Carolyn Kola and Samuel Kibet.
He hopes to defend the steeplechase gold at the ongoing event.
Likewise, Iten-based Sharon Bitok won the women’s 1500m category in her first attempt at the continental showpiece.
” I’m now focused on breaking the world record,” said Bitok who won for Kenya silver in the 2022 Deaflympics in Brazil.
UTILITIES
Africa Deaf Athletics Championships selected day 2 results
Men’s 100m
1. David Wamira 11.39
2.Walter Kalebu 11.45
3.Elijah Munyeko 11.57
Men’s 110 hurdles
1.Mohamed Naceur (Algeria) 16.83
2. Isaac Atima 16.84
3.Dennis Kipruto 18.00
Men’s 1500m
1. Lucas Wandia 3:56.13
2.John Koech 3:56.88
3.Elikana Rono 3:58.98
Men’s 10000m
1.Peter Wareng Toroitich 31:08:55
2.David Kiptum 31:11:83
3.Martin Ndungu 31:17:96
Women’s 100m
1.Beryl Wamira 12.89
2.Linet Fwamba 13.40
3.Pamela Adhiambo 13.49
Women’s 400m
1.Linet Fwamba 59.94
2.Beryl Wamira 1:01.47
3.Pamela Adhiambo 1:02.49
Women’s 1500m
1.Sharon Bitok 5:01.91
2.Grancy Kendagor 5:09.14
3. Sarah Wangari 5:17.17
