Kenya team win third race at Deaflympics games in Sofia

By Erick Ochieng'

Deaflympics 10,000m gold medallist Simon Kibai Cherono yesterday added another feather to his illustrious cap when he won the men’s 1,500m race at the ongoing 22nd Deaflympics Summer Games in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Cherono clocked 3:57.17 to win gold in the hotly contested race. Former World Junior 3,000m steeplechase and 1,500m record-holder Baxtone Menjo, who is also the Team Kenya captain, settled for silver in 3:57.19.

Rebecca Matiko was the only Kenyan woman to make it to the podium after winning bronze in the women’s 1,500m, clocking 4:45.33.

Kenya on Tuesday made a podium sweep in the men’s 10,000m, with Cherono clocking a fast time of 29:16.00 to win gold. It was also the championship record.

Daniel Kiptum, the reigning 5,000m and marathon champion, clocked 29:27.39 to win silver and world marathon record holder David Kipkogei won bronze in 30:52.80.

First medal

Kiptum won Kenya’s first gold in the Sofia games last week when he clocked 2:24:45 to emerge victorious in the men’s marathon that was held in Fussen, Germany. This was because Sofia could not get a standard course to stage the marathon.

Kiptum was faster than 2008 Turkey World Marathon and 10,000m bronze medallist Peter Toroitich (2:28:44) who bagged silver with David Njeru finishing a distant fifth in 2:45:28, thus failing to defend his runners-up position.

“I am grateful to God for the victory, I am very hopeful that I will do better in the 5,000m that is now remaining in my programme,”Cherono told FeverPitch in a telephone interview.

By yesterday, Kenya was top in the continent with eight medals (three gold, three silver and two bronze.)

Meanwhile, only Peninah Njeri made it to the 100m women’s semis after clocking 13.76 seconds. Beryl Wamira (12.49) and Linet Fwambwa (13.35) only did well in the qualifiers but failed to crack it for slots in the semis.

Sprint quest

Kenya’s Serah Kimani finished a distant fifth in 42:46.58 in the women’s 10,000m while Juster Kwamesa was among the six athletes who returned ‘Did Not Finish’ in the race.

In basketball, Kenya finished last in Group A with four points after being thrashed by the United States of America (24-112), Russia (18-95), Slovenia (35-116) and Australia (39-85).

However, the ability to raise a team and take it to the global stage was a clear sign the government is keen to develop the sport among the hearing impaired in the country.

Kenya’s good performance at the games has been hailed by Chef De Mission Tom Okiki, Gordon Oluoch (Head of Delegation) and Head Coach Caroline Kola.

Kola said Kenya is determined to surpass the 2009 Taipei Games record (seven medals, including four gold, two silver and one bronze medal) in this year’s championships.

Each gold medallist will be awarded Sh1 million, with Sh600,000 for silver and Sh300,000 for bronze by mobile phone services provider Safaricom. The telecommunication giant already injected Sh4million to boost the team. The Kenya government gave the Sofia team support to the tune of Sh37 million.