Athletics Kenya vice president Paul Mutwi believes the country’s performance at the Africa Cross Country Championships in Tunisia over the weekend is a sign of an incredible season ahead.
Team Kenya finished top of the table in Hammamet with medals including four gold, three silver and a bronze.
“This is only the beginning,” said Mutwii when the team touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Tuesday afternoon.
“We are optimistic of doing well at the World Cross Country Championships (in Belgrade, Serbia, on March 30).”
The national cross country championship/trials is slated for Saturday at the Kenya Prisons Staff Training College, Ruiru.
Mutwii praised the team for their exemplary performance.
“This team is very good. The athletes were selected during the Sirikwa World Athletics Tour. We enlisted the best, the results are there for everyone to see,” Mutwii stated.
Team Kenya head of delegation John Wachira said discipline was key in Tunisia.
“We had six competitions and we won five. Kenya was number one. I am happy about the discipline in the team,” said Wachira.
“We thank every Kenyan who prayed for us there. We did wonders and made the nation proud.”
Team Kenya pulled 1-2 podium finishes in both the senior men and women's races and also grabbed the mixed relay gold and had a clean sweep of medals in the men’s U20 title.
Cinthia Chepngeno clocked 32:31.04 to clinch the women’s title ahead of 2010 Youth Olympic Games 2,000m champion Virginia Nyambura, who timed 32:33.45.
Ethiopian Azimeraw Degitu spoiled a Kenyan podium sweep in 33:03.85 for the bronze medal. Kenyan Gladys Kwamboka was fourth after clocking 33:10.18.
Vincent Langat clocked 28:31.28 followed Naibei Mayabei, who clocked 28:40.27, in the men’s race.
Ethiopian Gemechu Dida completed the podium in 28:57.23, just seconds ahead of Ugandan Abel Chebet’s 29:01.81.
Gideon Kipngetich lead Joshua Kiprotich and Titus Kiprotich to a clean sweep of medals in the U20 podium.
Edwin Kiprono anchored Winfred Nzisa, Victor Mutwii and Miriam Cherop to the mixed relay gold.
Ethiopians Urgesa Teddese, Burguda Aduna, Adehena Kasaye and Danbobbi Dube settled for silver while Morocco bagged the bronze medal through Rizqy Hafid, Igram Ouaziz, Tindoufi Mohamed and Farouk Katwa.
