Kenyans bag more medals as they dominate Africa event

Pamela Adhiambo (left), Beryl Wamira and Rael Wamira in 100m finals during the 2nd Africa Deaf Athletics Championship 2023 at The Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani. Nov 28, 2023. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kenya continued with the medal haul at the ongoing second edition of Africa Deaf Athletics Championships at Kasarani, Nairobi, taking the gold tally to 15 on the third day.

The country swept the podium in 5000m (men and women), 800m (men and women), women's hammer and women's discus.

It was Libya that denied the hosts a clean sweep in men's 400m hurdles which Kenya bagged gold and bronze.

The star of the day was Ruth Chemurgor from Kapsabet who threw 21.71m to break her own African and Championships hammer records, set in 2019,  that stood at 20.60m.

"I'm happy to defend the title and set a new level to it, I'll strive to continue bettering this result,"  she told Standard Sports.

Chemurgor also had a 20m throw that won her gold in the women's discuss.

Another record of the day was set in men's hammer throw which was realised by Mohamed Mifta of Algeria who hurled a whooping 29.39m.

Soft spoken Grancy Kandagor who trains in Kaptagat was peerless as she cruised to the tape in 19:18.08 to bag gold in the women's 5000m.

The Deaflympian who is taking part in the African championships for the first time said her secret to the victory is her ability to train with other athletes at her Eldoret base.

Kandagor won silver in women's 1500m a day before she struck gold.

She also attributes her meteoric rise to the international exposure she got in Brazil last year where she won for Kenya bronze in both women's 10,000m and 5000m races.

Men's 5000m contest at Kasarani went to Ian Wambui who clocked 15:17.41 to beat Peter Toroitich and team captain Lucas Wandia who won the men's 10,000m and 1500m in that order on Tuesday.

Sharon Bitok, who had earlier won gold in women's 1500m category, added another feather in her cap when she breezed to the tape in 2:19.55 to triumph in women's 800m finals.

"These victories confirm that the future is bright for me if I continue to work hard," Bitok said.

Elikana Rono replicated his Deaflympics feat in Brazil last year by winning the hotly contested men's 800m in 1:57.34.

Rono said his amazing form is due to the extra training he does away from what is given by his coaches.

After bagging gold in men's 400m on Monday, Isaac Atima was at it again in men's 400m hurdles which he won in 55.68.

"I realised my fierce competitor (Mohamed Naceur of Algeria) is very strong in hurdles so I decided to go toe to toe with him before stretching beyond my limit in the last 100m to defeat him," said Atima who also won silver in men's 110 hurdles on Tuesday.