Nairobi Region overshadowed in annual championships as the 2018 school games end in Eldoret

KSSSA 2018 Olbolsat's John Njau quench his thirst in the U19 match against Kakamega High School during the 10th Edition of Copa Coca Cola Kenya Secondary Schools Sports games at The Hill School on Saturday July 28, 2018. [Jonah Onyango, Standard

Big shots Western settle for second best as the 2018 school games end in Eldoret.

Rift Valley Region won the overall team title at this year's secondary school national Term Two games ended on Saturday at Hill School, Eldoret.

The homeboys and girls dethroned 2017 winners Western after garnering 128 points, 23 more than Western, who finished second.

Rift Valley dominated Under-16 boys' football, rugby Sevens, cross-country, table tennis, badminton and decathlon. 

Nyanza Region accumulated 101 points to finish third while Nairobi, who lost their boys' Under-19 and girls' Under-16 football titles, dropped to fourth place with 84 points.

Central Region, with a final tally of 80 points, completed the top five places with Eastern (75), Coast (54) and North Eastern (13) following in that order. 

This year's competition saw the merging of Term Two A and B games into one event following the intervention of the Ministry of Education. In total, 11 disciplines were on show during the championships. 

Surprises, shocks and comebacks marked this year's games as new champions were crowned with only Kwanthanze completing a successful title defence.

Kakamega High School's Green Commandos were all smiles as they reclaimed their Under-19 boys' football title. With the victory, they now boast 13 national trophies.

Green Commandos edged debutantes Olbolsat from Central Region 1-0 in a tightly contested final.

Kakamega captain Chris Alpha Onyango, who also turns up for Gor Mahia Youth, was voted the Most Valuable Player.

Kwale Girls' Elizabeth Katungwa, whose seven goals gifted her side their maiden national title, was voted the best girl in the games.

Last year's national and East African champions Wiyeta relinquished their crown after failing to advance from the group stage.

It was a bad outing for Wiyeta as their Under-16 side also lost in the final to newcomers Moi Girls Nangili.

Laiser Hill Academy, Malava and Kaya Tiwi reclaimed their rugby Sevens, boys' volleyball and netball titles respectively.

This year's competition also saw newcomers Olbolsat from Central, Moi Girls Nangili from Western, Kapkenyeloi from Rift Valley and Nyakach Girls from Nyanza impress on their debut appearances.

Laiser Hill made a remarkable return to the games reclaiming their rugby Sevens title with an impressive 26-5 victory over Chavakali in the main cup final, where their captain Clinton Kioko bagged the MVP award.

Nonetheless, East Africa champions Wiyeta and Muhuri Muchiri were the biggest losers after they failed to qualify for next month's regional games.

Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Secretary General David Ngugi was impressed with level of the level of competition at this year's games and also the fine show by the newcomers.

"The newcomers impressed and the levels of competition were very high. Most of the contenders were debutants and they made the games more entertaining as they challenged the regulars for the titles," Ngugi said.

Focus now shifts to the East African games set for Musanze, Rwanda next month and teams that have qualified for the event will assemble in Busia on August 7 before they leave on August 10.

Kenya will seek to defend its regional crown in the week-long annual championships.