Sammy Nyakaye bags gold medals in 10,000m, 5,000m during teachers’ championships

By OSCAR PILIPILI

Nyanza’s Sammy  Nyakaye (right) on the way to winning the  10,000m race during Kenya Teachers Colleges Athletics Championships at Kigari, on Thursday. He is closely followed by his teammate Stanley Nyanchogora. [PHOTO: MARTIN MUKANGU/ STANDARD]

Sammy Nyakaye achieved a double feat after he won 10,000m men race in Kenya Teachers Colleges Sports Association Athletics Championships at Kigari on Thursday.

Nyakaye recorded 30:37.03 after a sprint finish to narrowly beat his Nyanza Zone rival Stanley Nyanchogora to gold medal.

Nyanchogora crossed the finish line in second position with a time of 30:37.05, just two micro-seconds behind the winner.

Chrispus Chebii of Nairobi was third in 31:02.35 while Evans Kipkorir of Rift Valley was fourth in 31:04 on final day of the Championships that was graced by Embu Governor Martin Wambora.

Nyakaye had won 5,000m race on the opening day of the Championships last Wednesday.

The 10,000m race started on amazingly blistering pace with athletes fighting to take charge of leading pack.

Evans Kipkorir of Rift Valley tried to move upfront but his challengers kept the race tight.

Leading pack of four athletes would then emerge with 13 laps to go and at halfway mark they had opened a 150m gap between them and second group of runners.

Nyanchiogora and Nyakeya in display of power took control of the race with five laps to go and maintained high pace to claim top two positions.

“My target was to win two gold medals in Kigari and I’m happy to have achieved the feat,” said Nyekaye, the double gold medalists.

Top two positions

Nyanza athletes were dominant in 3,000m steeplechase after they occupied the top two positions. Winnie Omoyo won the event in 11:53.53 to bag gold while Ruth Keter was runner-up in 11:59.06. Beatrice Chepterer of Central crossed the line in 12:13.10 to claim bronze.

Rift Valley bagged gold and silver in 1,500m men race that was won by Philip Tabei in 3:59.76. Tabei’s teammate Hillary Cheboi finished in silver position after clocking 4:05.41 while bronze went to Nyakeya who registered 4: 05.97.

Nyanza runners dominated 1, 500m women race after they occupied the top two positions. Janet Isaac won the event in a time of 4:46.66 to bag gold while teammate Anjelina Bittok claimed silver in 4:56.66. Central’s Emily Cheruto was contended with bronze after she crossed the line in 4:57.03.

Annety Biketi of Western lived up to expectations after she won 400m hurdles event with a time of 1:06.42. Divina Jepkogei of Central recorded 1:07.85 to bag silver while Anne Chesang of Western managed bronze in 1:08.32.

Walter Maasai of Nyanza ran a tactical race to win 400m hurdles men in 0:54.93 to be followed by Evans Otieno of Western (00:56.41) and Aspel Kerich of Rift Valley (00:57.13).

The leggy Maasai took the lead at the gun and maintained speed to leave his challengers chasing shadows.

Esther Odongo of Rift Valley beat a class field to win 100m race women final in 13.31 and bag gold. Cherogony Phanice of Western was second in 13.50 while Mourine Muhoja of Nairobi was third in 13.88.