BY OUR CORRESPONDENT
The first day of the Western Kenya Edition of multi-discipline competition, BingwaFest, kicked off with a flurry of action at the Mumias Sugar Sports Complex today. Athletes from Kakamega and neighbouring counties battled it out in a series of thrilling athletics events.
The first event of the day was the 10,000m race for both men and women, in which Robert Kiprop and Janeth Chepng’etich picked up top honours with times of 27:35.0 and 34:21.02 respectively.
The shorter distances provided even more excitement as athletes sprinted for glory. The finalists in the 100m event for both men and women delivering an excellent show, with Meshack Babu emerging victorious in the men’s race and Eunice Kadogo claiming top honours in the women’s category with times of 10.4 and 12.2 respectively.
In the 1500m event, the runners showcased tactical prowess in middle-distance running, with [winner’s name] and Josephine Chelang’at dominating the men’s and women’s races respectively with times of [insert time] and 4:15.64 respectively.
As the day progressed, the intensity only increased. The 5000m event in the warm, humid Mumias conditions tested the stamina of the competitors, with Cornelius Kemboi and Janeth Chepng’etich claiming the top spots in their respective categories with times of 13:46.4 and 16:25.0 respectively. Chepng’etich, who was unlucky to not join Team Kenya in Paris for the Olympic Games was in fine fettle on the day, bagging her second win in as many races.
The 800m race proved to be a thrilling spectacle, with Noah Kibet and Naomi Korir outclassing their rivals to secure victory with times of with times of 1:47.1 and 2:05.6 respectively. The 400m race was another highlight of the day, with Danson Kibet and Gladys Jepkemboi showcasing their speed and endurance, clocking 48.1 and 55.3 respectively.
With the first day of athletics completed, the competition is heating up, and fans can expect even more thrilling action in tomorrow through to Saturday, with 3×3 basketball, men and women’s football, and rugby 10s and 7s for men and women respectively.
