BY OUR CORRESPONDENT ‘
The World Masters Athletics president Margit Jungmann has lauded Kenya’s superb performance in the just concluded 25th edition of the World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden.
A brilliant Kenya team finished 21st globally on the medal standings after collecting 26 medals, which includes seven golds, ten silver medals and six bronze medals. The great show of resilience saw the country finish second on the African log after South Africa who amassed 23 medals and topped due to a high number of gold medals. Nigeria was third on the continent with only one gold medal while Egypt was ranked fourth with one bronze.
USA who had registered 600 athletes in competition emerged overall champions with 224 medals
President Jungmann noted Kenya’s exemplary performance and extended an invitation to Team Kenya for the World Indoor Championships set for March next year in Florida, USA.
“We have just finished the 25th edition of the World Masters Athletics Championships with 8000 athletes. It was a great Championship and we had a wonderful Kenyan team with us here. The team made the competition colorful and gave the competition a great success as well. They also gave a good show for themselves in terms of performance on the track and field events. We are now looking forward to the next events which are the Indoor Championships next year in Florida and World Championships in Daegu, South Korea in two-year’s time,” Jungmann said.
Kenya grabbed a bronze medal on the last day of the competition in the women’s 4×400m relay courtesy of Elizabeth Muthoka, ReiginaMulatia, Sylvia Chesebe and Grace Kidake who clocked 3:56.99 in the spectacular race.
Team captain Sikuku and Rosaline David had double fortunes in the Championships winning two gold medals each. Sikuku, 50, reigned supreme in the men’s 5km and 10km walk race respectively while West Pokot’s Rosaline David was unstoppable in Women’s 10km road race and 5000m final at the Ullevi Stadium.
Athletics Kenya Masters Secretary General Dr Rose Tata Muya commended the team for giving a spirited fight and flying the Kenyan flag high once again despite the tough challenge that was exhibited by opponents.
“The competition was very tough here in Sweden but I would like to commend our athletes for giving a top notch performance that earned Kenya 26 medals. The athletes gave their best in all the arenas and I urge them to improve when they return home in order to cop well with the current competition demands. We have the World Indoor Championships in Florida and another Championship in Daegu that means there is no room for laxity; we need to prepare well and to be ready. I would like to thank our government through the Ministry of Sports for the continued support of the Masters. We welcome our Cabinet Secretary for Sports KipchumbaMurkomen for our arrival in Nairobi on Tuesday evening.”
This was the fourth for Kenya to take part in the World Masters Athletics Championships after Perth Australia in 2016, Malaga, Spain in 2019 and Torun, Poland last year.
The 26 athletes and 8 officials who represent Kenya in Gothenburg are scheduled to jet back to Nairobi on Tuesday August 27 at 9:15 PM.
Kenya’s medalists in Sweden.
Gold medalists
1. Francis Bowen-5000m M50
2. Rosaline David-5000m W45
3. Erick Sikuku -10km Walk race M45
4. Rosaline David -10KM road race
5. Kenneth Mburu Mungara-10km road race
6. Kenneth MburuMungara – 8km Cross- Country
7. Eric Sikuku – 5km walk race
Silver Medalists
1. Joan Kigen 5000m W45
2. Kenneth Mburu 5000m M50
3. Joshua Kipchumba 3000 m SC M55
4. Grace Kidake 800m W35
5. Robert Kibet 800m M60
6. Samuel Ndereba 5000m M45
7. Francis Bowen 10KM road race
8. Joan Kigen 10km road race
9. Samuel Ndereba 10km road race
10. Robert Kibet 1500m
Bronze Medalists
1. Sylvia Chesebe -800m W35
2. Ibrahim Muyah -100m M35
3. Relay 4×100m
4. Jesse Njoroge -5000m
5. Regina Malai – long jump
6. Sylvia Chesebe – 400m
