Serem, Kiprop win silver and bronze for Kenya in steeplechase

Kenya’s Amos Serem gave Kenya the first silver medal in the 3,000m steeplechase as the athletics programme got underway on Monday in the ongoing African Games at the University of Ghana Stadium.

Serem was timed at 8:25.77 in a race won by Ethiopian Samuel Debisa in 8:24.30. Kenya’s Simon Kiprop wrapped up the podium by winning bronze in 8:26.19.

The other Kenyan Edmund Serem, who is a younger brother to Amos, found the going tough as he finished sixth in 8:31.21.

The two Kenyans were over the moon after dominating the podium saying: “ This is a dream come true and we are happy to win medals for our country,” they said.

The two said they will build up on the victory as they chase slots for August’s Paris Olympic Games.

In the women’s 5,000m, the pre-race favourite B Beatrice Chepkoech failed to medal as Ethiopians swept all three medals.

Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa clocked 15:04.32 to take gold while Ethiopia's Birtukan Mollan (15:05.32 ) and counterpart Melkat Shaarew (15:07.04) took silver and bronze respectively.

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In the women’s 400, world 800m champion Mary Moraa clocked 52.18 to sail to the next round. Malawi’s Asimenye Simwaka was second in 53.32 with Seychelles’ Georgiana Sesay third in 53.35.

Moraa will have the company of Jackline Nanjala in the next round after placing third in her heat in 54.11.  Zambia’s Rodah Njobvu (52.03) won the heat while Senegalese Fatou Gaye was second in 53.26.

In the 400m, Kennedy Kimeu and David Sanayek impressed in their respective heats to sail to the semi-finals. Kimeu won his heat in 46.30 seconds ahead of Senegalese Hadji Malik (46.48) and Zimbabwe’s Zuze Ledford (47.29).

On the other hand, Sanayek was second in the second heat in 46.18 behind Nigeria’s Okezie Chidi who won the heat in 45.89. Senegalese Ndiaye Abode Aziz finished third in the heat in 47.05.

In the women’s 800m, all the two Kenyans swept to the final. Vivian Chebet qualified in Heat 1, where she finished second in 2:02.36, behind

Ethiopia’s  Tsige Duguma. Uganda Susan Aneno placed third in 2:04.73.

Another Kenyan Lilian Odira won her heat in 2:04.86 ahead of EthiopianGenale Aster (2:05.05) and Morocco’s Raziki Assia (2:09.33).