Kenya was the talk of town here in Accra, Ghana on Wednesday as they raked in four gold medals to lift the country’s mood in the ongoing African Games in Accra, Ghana.
Emily Ngii, Mary Moraa, Beatrice Chepkoech and Aaron Chemenigwa ran riot, raking in four gold medals within hours to return Kenya into contention for the top honours in the continental games.
Ngii opened the account for Kenya early in the day after winning the women’s 20km race in 1:37:34.
Ethiopia’s Sintayehu Teshager took second place while Algeria’s Souad Azzi (1:45:42) placed third. Kenya’s Silvia Kemboi fourth in 1:41:20.
World 800m champion Moraa and 3000m steeplechase world record holder Chepkoech clinched second and third gold medals after reigning supreme in the 400m and 3000m steeplechase finals respectively.
Moraa clocked 50.57 seconds to lead Nigeria's Joseph Esther Elo (51.61) and Burkina Faso’s Sibiri Sita (NR 51.74 ) to the podium.
Chepkoech struck gold number three in a games record of 9:15.61. Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai (9:16.07) took silver while Ethiopia's Tefera Muleta finished third in 9:26.63.
Chemenigwa rounded off the day with the fourth gold after clocking 1:45.72 to win the men’s 800m final ahead of fellow countryman Alex Kipngetich who timed 1:45.73 to finish second while Botswana’s Nkape Tumo claimed bronze.
The other silver medallist was Samuel Gathimba in the men’s 20km walk.
