Dennis Kipkoech and Diana Chekemoi have bolstered Kenya’s presence at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru, by securing silver and bronze medals, respectively, raising the country’s medal tally to three.
In a closely contested 3000m final, Dennis Kipkoech clocked an impressive 8 minutes 20.79 seconds, narrowly missing out on gold to Norway’s Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen, who finished in 8 minutes 20.56 seconds. Great Britain’s Edward Bird clinched the bronze, completing the race in 8 minutes 21.00 seconds. Another Kenyan, Clinton Kimutai Ngetich, finished in 11th place with a time of 8 minutes 25.51 seconds.
Reflecting on his performance, Kipkoech expressed his gratitude, saying, “I must thank God for winning this silver. It was not easy, but the hard work paid off.” He also noted that the team strategy with his teammate didn’t go as planned, particularly during the final lap, forcing him to make a last-minute adjustment that nearly cost him the medal.
On the women’s side, Diana Chekemoi delivered a stellar performance in the 3000m steeplechase, achieving a personal best of 9 minutes 29.84 seconds to earn a bronze medal. Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew took home the gold with a new championship record of 9 minutes 12.71 seconds, while Uganda’s Loice Chepkwemoi secured silver with a personal best of 9 minutes 18.84 seconds.
Chekemoi, despite the tough competition, was thrilled with her accomplishment. “I am happy to have won a medal for Kenya. The race was tough, but I’m confident I will win next time,” she said, demonstrating her determination for future races.
Kenya’s hopes remain high as the championships continue, with three more athletes advancing to the 800m finals. Sarah Moraa, a standout in the women’s 800m heats and cousin to 800m world champion Mary Moraa, dominated her race, finishing in 2 minutes 3.44 seconds. She will represent Kenya in the final, which is set for Saturday.
In the men’s 800m, Phanuel Kipkosgei and Kelvin Kimutai also made strong showings in their heats, securing their spots in the final. Kipkosgei won his heat with a time of 1 minute 48.2 seconds, while Kimutai finished second in his heat, clocking 1 minute 47.5 seconds.
As the championships progress, Kenya’s athletes continue to demonstrate their prowess on the global stage, with more opportunities to add to their medal count in the coming days.