Muchai claims second gold for Kenya at Rio Paralympics
Kenya’s Samwel Muchai Kimani with his guide James Boit lead the Men’s 1500m - T11 Final at the Olympic Stadium, during the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, on September 13, 2016. Muchai won the race. PHOTO | AL TIELEMANS |
What you need to know:
- Kirwa in the race for honours in 5,000m T12 while Nzungi lines up in 200m heats
- Superb Muchai lifts the nation again as he wins easy in 5,000m T11 final
Samwel Muchai claimed gold in the T11 men’s 1500m at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday morning.
It was Muchai’s second gold after winning the 5,000m race on Thursday last week and brings Kenya’s medal tally to four.
Muchai fended off stiff competition from home favourite Odair Santos to claim the top honours in 4 minutes 03.25 seconds, while Santos - who also finished second in the 5,000m - settled for silver in 4 minutes, 03.85 seconds. Turkey’s Deniz Semih took the bronze in 4.05.42.
TRADITIONAL DANCE
It was, however, disappointment for Wilson Bii, who wound fourth in 4.07.98. As has been his tradition, Muchai, guided by James Boit, began the race at a high speed and maintained his pace even as Santos and Bii breathed down his neck.
Bii, who took bronze in the 5,000m, at one point seemed destined for third but when the bell was sounded, Muchai and Santos showed him a clean pair of heels while Deniz was also not left behind either as each came to the final bend.
At the home straight, the battle for gold narrowed down to the indefatigable Muchai and the Brazilian, who had spoiled a clean sweep for Kenya in the 5,000m, showing his ugly intent but Muchai was in no mood to play second fiddle, speeding to cross the line before bursting into wild celebrations.
Muchai’s time of 4.03.25 was his season’s best but it fell short of the world record he set in London in 2012, when he clocked 3.58.37.
Kenya is still in the hunt for more medals in the T12 5,000m where Henry Kirwa will be flying the national flag. Nancy Chelagat, who failed to qualify for the 200m finals, is also a medal prospect in the T11 women’s 1,500m.
Chelagat will take to the track this evening to compete in the heats while Kirwa will battle it out in the 5,000m final from 4pm.
On Friday, sprinter Henry Nzungi will line up in the 200m heats. Last week, Nzungi won in the 400m heats only to be barred from the final for lane infringement.
Meanwhile, Team Manager John Tita expressed optimism that Kenya will win more medals to match the six medals they bagged in London, 2012. “We are still hunting for more medals and we are hopeful in the races still left,” Tita said.
