Stella Chepkosgei and Onesmus Munyao won their second gold medals on Wednesday morning on the last day of the 2019 World Special Olympics Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Chepkosgei, a Division F08 middle distance runner, won the 800m run as Munyao ruled the 10,000m race in the M01 classification.
The 16-year-old Chepkosgei clocked 2:19.30 to win the 800m. Orawan Kaising of Thailand spoilt a one-two Kenyan finish after timing 02:30.55 to relegate Chepkosgei's compatriot Irene Nzilani to bronze medal position. Nzilani, 20, crossed the line in 02:36.31.
Munyao faced little competition by beating his closest competitor by almost six minutes to successfully defend his 10,000m title. He timed 31:36.70, beating 22 year-olds Ecuadorian Jose Gabriel Palacios (37:40.13) and Italian Nicolo’ Armani (38:31.64) to the second and third places respectively.
Chepkosgei had on Saturday won the 1,500m event in 04:49.32, beating Nzilani to the second place, while Munyao, 20, was triumphant in the half marathon having in 1:11:34.
Kenya’s medal tally as at yesterday noon moved to 21- 11 gold, seven silver and three bronze.
The unified male/ mixed division PLYRD04 basketball team won gold as volleyball Unified sports team Division B brought silver. The unified football 11-aside team failed to defend their title by finishing second.
Kelvin Tanui added a silver medal after winning the boys’ 800m division M10 in 02:07.23, behind Thailand’s Phuttipong Saiyai (02:02.47). Marion Iravaya Obiri garnered silver in bocce singles as golfers Sammy Mwatu pairing with unified partner Paramveer Sehmi placed second in unified sports alternate shot team play.
In the F03 standing long jump, Purity Jepkurui grabbed bronze. In beach volleyball, Kenya, Syria and hosts United Arab Emirates tie on four points having won two of their three matches each as Finland have lost all their duels in division 1.
