Fresh from a promising campaign at the inaugural African School Games in Algiers, Algeria, Team Kenya is already shifting focus to glory at the 4th African Youth Games scheduled for December in Angola.
In Algiers, the young Kenyan squad bagged a total of 11 medals (five gold, one silver, and five bronze), finishing 11th overall on the medal table.
Hosts Algeria dominated the Games with a staggering 244 medals, followed by Egypt (59) and Tunisia (34), who completed the podium.
Nigeria finished fourth with 23 medals. Kenya's gold medallists in Algeria included: David Kabaiko (boys' 1,500m), Lorna Cherono (girls' 3,000m), Clare Chepng'etich (girls' 2,000m), Koech Manase Kiprotich (boys' 800m) and Kelvin Kipngeno (triple jump).
Lukeman Shaffi Bakari clinched silver in boxing.
The bronze medallists were Clinton Omari (wrestling, Greco-Roman), Clinton Omari (wrestling freestyle 45kg), Vivian Adhiambo (girls' wrestling 53kg), Mercy Eragae (cycling) and Bramwel Mathenge (110m hurdles).
Team captain Mathenge, who led from the front with a bronze in the hurdles, said the outing in Algeria was a key learning curve ahead of Angola.
"After completing the team has gauged itself and we now know where we need to improve," Mathenge said.
"We have agreed as a team that we will work on our weaknesses and be stronger as we approach the Africa Youth Games in Angola this December," he added.
The promising hurdler admitted he’s already eyeing an upgrade to his medal. "Personally, as a hurdler, I need to polish my skills. Some things did not go right in my hurdling.
The School games have given us a chance to realise what we need to do to take our game to the next level."
The team returned home Thursday morning to a warm reception from Barnaba Korir, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) first vice president. Korir praised the youngsters for punching above their weight on foreign soil.
"Our athletes did so well in Algeria, yet they are still very young. Their hard work helped Kenya finish fifth in the medal standings," Korir said. "It was the first time for some of them to compete outside the country, and we are proud of their efforts as the National Olympic Committee."
