Young distance sensation Kelvin Chesang delivered Kenya’s first gold medal at the ongoing African Senior Championships in Accra, Ghana, producing a commanding performance to storm to the men’s 10,000m title.
Chesang clocked 28:30.44 to hand Kenya its first gold medal after two days of athletics action, while also clinching his maiden continental crown in emphatic fashion.
The rising star unleashed a devastating finishing kick to edge out Ethiopia’s Hagos Gared, who settled for silver in 28:30.57.
National 10,000m champion Silas Senchura completed the podium sweep for East Africa, bagging bronze after timing 28:32.66.
Chesang’s triumph on Wednesday evening also brought an end to Kenya’s 14-year drought in the continental 10,000m showpiece.
Kenya had last captured the title back in Porto-Novo, Benin, in 2012 when Kenneth Kipkemoi produced a championship record of 27:19.74 to spearhead a famous Kenyan podium sweep.
Mark Kiptoo secured silver in 27:20.77, while Lewis Mosoti claimed bronze in 27:22.54.
An elated Chesang expressed satisfaction with both the victory and the fierce battle on the track.
“I am happy with the race and the time. I saw the Ethiopians in the race and they looked really strong, so I tried my best to push my body and I am glad it paid off,” Chesang said.
The victory capped yet another impressive outing for Chesang, who arrived in Accra fresh from a dominant display at the Kip Keino Classic on April 24, where he stormed to victory in 28:31.50 ahead of Mkulia Kipkandie (28:36.37) and Charles Kiboino (28:37.81).
How Kenya’s mixed 4x400m relay team performed at African Senior Championships
Meanwhile, Kenya’s mixed 4x400m relay quartet of Samuel Chege, Laoline Aoko, Dennis Masika and Maureen Nanjala claimed bronze after clocking 3:17.94.
The Kenyan team finished behind Nigeria, who struck gold in 3:16.44, while Botswana settled for silver in 3:17.88.
Decathlete Edwin Too added silver to Kenya’s tally after a strong display over 10 gruelling events.
Too replicated his performance from the 2024 edition in Douala, Cameroon, where he amassed 7140 points to secure silver behind South African Fredriech Pretorius who amassed 7550 points.
Algeria’s Dhiae Boudoumi settled for bronze with 6943 points.
