BY AGNES MAKHANDIA
Kenyan claims 400 and 400m gold medals as gold rush continues
AFTER bagging the 800m and 400m gold medals yesterday at the Tanzania National 
Stadium, in form world junior champion Margaret Nyairera Wambui has set her eyes on the forthcoming Diamond League meeting in Belgium.
Buoyed by her recent victory at the recent world youth championships in Eugene, Oregon with a time of 2:00.9, the Tetu High School Form Two student needed 02:07.0 to run away with the 800m race and 54.0 time to scoop the 400m race in Dar es Salaam.
The 800m field included Esther Chebet of Uganda who finished second ( 02:08.9) ahead of Kenya’s Margaret Chelimo (02:09.4).
Wambui said she did not feel pressure in the race she was using as build-up for Belgium.
Saying she will only concentrate on the 800m race in future in her bid to build a name of her own, she added: “Unlike yesterday (Thursday) when it was very hot, the weather was friendlier today. I had no competition at all in the 400m or 800m. My experience and exposure in Oregon was a blessing for me. I used my experiences gained there to my advantage and I’m happy I won both races.
In the men’s 5,000m race, Alfred Nge’no cruised past 8km Africa cross- country silver medalist Andrew Lorot to win the race in 13:58.7.
Lorot (14:02.4) was second followed by Rwanda’s Cyliag Ndayikingurukite third in 14:07.6.
Asked how the race was, Lorot, a Form Two student at Riruta Central and the pre-race favourite, said, “It was very tough. I tried to kick but my body refused to respond. However I am glad my friend (Nge’no) won it.”
In the boys 100m race men, the home team faded to second and third position. Rogason Odhiambo (10.7) bagged silver, as Markson Sirere of Kakamega High (10.8) settled for bronze and Uganda’s Elvis Ouma bagged gold (10.5).
In the women’s 100m race, Casty Kendi won the silver in 12.5 behind Jesca Ilau of Uganda who claimed the gold with a time of 12.2. Tanzania’s Jane Maiga (12.6) won bronze.
Kenya’s Isaac Kipkosgei (3:48.4) and Joseph Juma (3:48.4) won gold and silver medals respectively in the 1500m.
In the girls, race, Margaret Chelimo won gold in 4:25.2 ahead of Esther Chebet of Uganda who came in second in 4:26.5 followed by Beartha Nishimwe of Rwanda third in 4:28.
In the field events, Kenya settled for bronze in the discus courtesy of Nancy Yator who threw the metal disc 25.22. She finished behind Uganda’s Mercy Laker (34.84) and Josephine Lalam (31.83) .
In the girls’ high jump, Jennifer Cheptoo (1.55) and Eucabeth Chepkemo (1.51) took charge to take gold and silver respectively as Nasiba Nabiyire of Uganda (1.50) settled for bronze.
Courtesy of the-star.co.ke