By OUR CORRESPONDENT
Former national women’s 400m champion Grace Kidake and her teammate Nancy Ngina are oozing with optimism of extending their great performances this year at the African Masters Athletics Championships slated for Tunisia in September.
Kidake, 40, produced another magnificent show at the European Speed Masters Championships held in Shkoder, Albania where she managed to grab two gold medals in the women’s 200m (W40) and split relay that involved African athletes.
The Mombasa-based short distance runner won a silver medal and a bronze in mixed relay last year during the 25th edition of the World Masters Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden.
“The completion was tough but we are grateful that we managed to come back home with something. We used this to gauge our levels ahead of the African championships this year and the World Masters Athletics Championships next year in Daegu, South Korea. This event in Albania was important to us as far as improving our qualification and competition time is concerned. I would like to thank our association (Athletics Kenya Masters) and the leadership of Athletics Kenya for granting us the opportunity to travel and compete overseas,” Kidake remarked.
On her part, Nancy Ninga who was competing at the Masters level for the first time expressed her elation after coming home with two bronze medals that she won in women’s 200m category W59 and split relay.
“I am grateful to everyone who made this possible as we went to Albania for this competition. This was my first-time racing outside the country. This Masters competition is very useful especially in keeping fit especially for former athletes. I would like to urge other ‘retired’ athletes to come back to the track or even road racing for the purpose of keeping fit for good health,” Ngina said.
Athletics Kenya Masters Secretary General DR Rose Tata Muya, who was at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport early Thursday morning congratulated the duo for the stellar show abroad.
“We are so happy because of these two great ladies (Kidake and Ngina). They did all they could to be in Albania for the championships. They have done us proud as a country despite the earlier misfortunes of delayed visa approval. I would like to encourage them and the other Masters Athletes in the country to train hard since we have trials for the African Championships.”
The European Speed Master Championships were held from 15th to 18th May 2025.
