Action in the women's 10, 000m at Shanzu Teachers Training College in Mombasa/HABDOUTNational 10,000m champion Gladys Kwamboka dominated the Betika BingwaFest Coast
edition, winning both the 10,000m and 5,000m titles at Shanzu Teachers Training
College.
Kwamboka, 29, secured victory in the women’s 10,000m,
clocking 33:39.5 in a tactical race, with a strong kick in the final stretch to
finish ahead
of Brenda Jepchumba Kenei (33:34.0) and Kadogo Jematian (33:44.16).
She later returned to the track to claim the women’s 5,000m
crown in 16:07.2, narrowly edging Celestine Biwott by just 0.4 seconds in one
of the closest finishes of the day, with
Kadogo Jematian (16:10.5) sealing the podium.
Speaking after her triumph, Kwamboka, the 2024 African
champion, said: “I have been working so that I could come and take part, but I
did not get the chance before in the season because I have been engaged at
work. I was not expecting to win today because I am just getting in shape for
the season, and I think I did well for myself.”
Kwamboka took home Sh550,000 for winning both races, Sh300,000
for winning the 10,000m, and Sh250,000 for winning the 5,000m.
Stephen Muthini clocked 29:14.7 to win the men’s
10,000 race, edging Edica Kipkorir
(29:28.4) and Joseph Ndirangu (29:30.1), who were second
and third, respectively.
In the 5000m, Abel Kirui edged a thrilling contest to win in
13:14.0, narrowly ahead of Victor Kimutai, who clocked 13:14.8. Weldon Langat
rounded out the podium in 13:45.0.
In the women’s 1500m, Naomi Korir produced a composed run to
take victory in 4:24.9, with Celestine Biwott (4:26.5) finishing
second and Christine Komen (4:27.9) coming home
third. Kyumbe Munguti won the men’s race in
3:46.8. Wilson Larry Merin and Constantine Cheruiyot followed in
3:48.3 and 3:48.4, respectively.
Tanzania’s Winfrida Makenji powered to
victory in the women’s 100m in 12.3 seconds, holding off a competitive
field to beat Maximilla Imali (12.4) and Moureen
Wafula (12.5), who were second and third, respectively.
The four-time Tanzania national champion over 100m welcomed
the challenge of lining up against unfamiliar opposition in a new
environment.
“This is a very good platform for me,” she said after her
win.
“When you compete
outside your country and against athletes you don’t normally face,
you can test your level truly. The conditions are different, the crowd is
different, and the competition is different. It pushes you mentally and
physically. For me, this was about gauging where I
am, identifying areas I can improve, and challenging myself beyond my
comfort zone.”
Focus now shifts to the national finals, where the top athletes from respective regions will line up against each other.
