Bii, Kimutai win silver in unfamiliar territories as bronze increase

US-based Winnie Bii and Edwin Kimutai surprised Kenyans with silver medals in unfamiliar territories as the athletics programme entered Day Two of the ongoing All African Games in Accra, Ghana.

Bii and Kumutai clinched medals in triple jump and decathlon respectively—two uncharted areas for Kenya. 

Bii posted 13.64 metres to finish second behind gold winner Nigeria’s Ruth Usoro of Nigeria, who covered 13.80m. Senegal’s Saly Sarr came away with bronze after posting 13.60 metres.

Edward Kimutai equally took silver in the decathlon after returning 7140 points behind winner Algeria’s Dhiae Cherif, who took gold with 7550 points. Egyptian Mahmoud Taher Abdelazim completed the top three positions with 6643.

World 800m champion Mary Moraa led Kenya to bronze in the mixed 4x400m relay, where she teamed up with David Sanayek, Mourine Thomas and Kennedy Kimeu, clocking 3:18.03.

Nigeria won the race in an African record of 3:13.26 and Botswana came second in 3:13.99.

Moraa had booked a place in the women’s 400m final after clocking 51.55 in the first semi-final on Tuesday.  Zambia’s Quincy Malekani (52.18) was second and Malawian Asimenya Simwaka finished third in 53.18.

Sanayek and Kimeu were happy with the bronze after exiting the men’s 400m at the semi-final stage.

Sanayek finished third in the first semi-final in 46.38 whereas Kimeu recorded 46.39 but the times were not good enough to catapult them to the final.

In the men’s 10,000m, Kenya’s Evans Kiptum won bronze after finishing third in 29:47.61′.

Ethiopians continued their dominance with Bogale Nibret (29:45.37) leading countryman, Diriba Gemechu (29:45.68) to a 1-2 finish. Kiptum was well placed at the bell but his slow reactions saw the two Ethiopians sprint to the finish to pick gold and silver.

With 200m to go,  he had resigned for fourth place but later increased pace to overtake Ndikumana with 20 metres to the finish for third. Peter Mwaniki, who had flirted with the leaders for the better part of the race, dropped to ninth place in 30:07.26 at the end.

In the women’s 800m, Kenya’s Vivian Chebet settled for bronze behind gold winner Duguma Tsige (1:57.73) and  2019 world 800m champion, Uganda’s Halima Nakaayi, who settled for silver in 1:58.59.

Kenya has so far won 14 medals —three silver and 11 bronze and occupies position 25 at the moment.