Western, Rift Valley dominate athletics championships

Some of the teachers in action during the relay race in Kenya Teachers Colleges ports Association Athletics Championship at Thogoto Teachers College, Kiambu yesterday. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

Western and Rift Valley stamped authority as this year’s Kenya Teachers Colleges (KTCSA) National Athletics Championships entered day two yesterday at Thogoto Teachers Training College in Kiambu County. Western, who are seeking to defend the women’s title, took a comfortable 92 points lead while the men’s defending champions Rift Valley remained on course to retain their trophy with 61.

Eregi and Kaimosi spearheaded Western’s onslaught, conquering in both field and track events. Sylvia Kibwalei of Eregi won the women’s 1500m race in a time of four minutes 58 seconds, as Mosoriot duo of Janet Biwot and Celestine Mitema finished second and third in a time of 5:05 and 5:06 respectively.

Violet Barasa, also of Eregi, was crowned champion in 100m and long jump. Barasa clocked 12.9 seconds to win the women’s 100m race while her college mate Lilian Aoko came in second at 13.1. Mercy Munyua of Rift Valley came in 0.4 seconds later to take bronze. Cynthia Muliro of Kaimosi won gold in triple jump and high jump.

Emmy Chemtai of Mosoriot crossed the finish line in 39 minutes 32.2 seconds to win gold in women’s 10,000m. Lucy Chepkurui and Fancy Chesang, also of Mosoriot, finished second and third respectively. Chepkurui took silver in a time of 39:34.4 while Chesang completed the podium 1.06 seconds later. Chemtai said they worked together to ensure that they grabbed all the medals.

In the men’s 3000m steeplechase, Rift Valley once again carried the day as Walter Langat of Kericho Teachers Training College clocked 9:28.0 to take gold. Kagumo’s Dennis Gitonga came in second 9:35.9 to secure Central Region’s first medal. Vincent Chepkwony of Tambach took bronze for Rift Valley in a time of 9:43.8.

Asumbi Teachers Training College representing Nyanza dominated the visual impaired winning gold in both the men and women’s 800m T11 category. Winnie Awour of Asumbi clocked 3:40.2 minutes to emerge victorious in the women’s 800m T11 challenge. The Mosoriot duo of Agnes Muge (3:56.0) and Laura Muthoni (3:58.3) took silver and bronze in that order.

In the men’s challenge Asumbi’s Samwel Oduor raced to gold in 2:24.9. Gilbert Lorie of Mosoriot crossed the finishing? line a second later to take silver while Victor Waswa also of Asumbi settled for bronze in 2:38.4.