Gilbert Kwemoi wins Kenya’s first gold at Youth Olympic Games in China

Kenya on Sunday bagged her first two medals at the ongoing Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China.

This success registered on the athletics track took the country to tenth on the medal standings on Sunday evening.

Ethiopia, who are the only African nation placed above Kenya on the log, are sixth with four medals.

Kenya’s first gold medal in the competition came in the 1500m race through Gilbert Kwemoi, who managed a personal best timing in the race as he sliced four seconds from his semi-final time to win the discipline in an impressive 3min, 41.99sec.

Ethiopia’s Mulugeta Assefa came in second in a personal best of 3:45.08. Djibouti’s Mohammed Ismail Ibrahim rounded off an African podium finish by clocking 3:45.72.

WONE BRONZE

Kenya also bagged a bronze medal in men’s 3000m race through Moses Koech who finished the race in 8min, 06.33sec.

Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha won the race in an impressive 7:56.20, while Burundi’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo’s late kick proved sufficient as he beat Koech to the silver medal in almost a photo finish.

The country’s third medal hopeful, Jackline Chepkoeck, faded badly after an impressive start in the women’s 3000m race before finishing sixth.

This contest was won by Japan’s Nozomi Musembi Takamatsu who posted a personal best of 9:01.58. Germany’s Alina Reh and Ethiopia’s Berhan Demiesa took silver and bronze respectively.

Meanwhile, Winfred Mbithe, Rosefline Chepngetich and Amos Kirui will be tasked with adding to team Kenya’s medal haul at the competition on Monday.

Mbithe, who boasts a personal best of 4:13.80, will be gunning for a medal in the 1500m final, a race that has attracted the likes of Ethiopia’s Kokebe Tesfaye and Italy’s Chiara Fedrani.

Chepngetich will in the meantime be the country’s sole flagbearer in the 2000m steeplechase finale, with Kirui targeting gold in the men’s 2000m steeplechase final.