Kenya on Thursday proved the best in track and field after they finished top of the pack at the end of the athletics programme of this year’s East Africa Secondary School Games in Nakuru.
Of the five countries that presented teams for track and field competition at the Afraha stadium, Kenya collected 47 medals: 16 gold, 18 silver and 13 bronze.
Uganda finished second with 35 medals: 13 gold, 12 silver and 10 bronze while Rwanda were third with one gold and four bronze. Tanzania finished fourth with three bronze, while Southern Sudan and Zanzibar did not win any medal.
A total of 90 medals were won; 30 gold 30 silver and 30 bronze. Whereas Kenya relied heavily on men to win the gold medals, 12 in number, Uganda had their girls to thank for collecting the country’s 11 gold medals.
Tough opponents
Uganda’s men won two gold six silver and seven bronze. Women won 11 gold, six silver and three bronze. Kenya coach Samson Kimombwa on Thursday admitted that the competition was difficult for Kenya because of the stiff challenge posed by other countries and in particular Uganda, who provided a very strong women team.
Uganda coach Abdallah Mohammed said the high-quality displayed by the runners showed athletics would be the most popular in the championships in future.
From next year the East African family could increase if Ethiopia, Democrantic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe, who have applied to be admitted, are allowed in during the Federation of East Africa secondary Schools Sports Association council meeting that is to take place in Nakuru.
Impressive performance
Uganda proved a powerhouse in field events and sprints with one athlete Agnes Aneno emerging with most medals after winning 200metres, 400m and helping her relay teams clinch gold both in 4x100m and 4x400m.
Aneno’s Fame Athletics Club coach James Mugeni was impressed with her performance and said he would take the runner to Nairobi to run in the Kenyan trials for the Commonwealth Games trials on Saturday to gain more exposure.
But Kenya dominated the long distance races, bagging medals in men 5000m through Albert Rop who won in 14:15.81. Behind Rop was former world cross country junior bronze medalist Japhet Korir in 14:17.11.
As expected in the girls’ 800m, Annet Negesa of Uganda, fresh from the World Junior Championships in Mocton, Canada, beat Kenyan Fancy Cherotich and Emmaculate Chebet. Negesa clocked 2:07.63 for gold, while Cherotich took silver.
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