Kenya won three medals at the first African Championship: the standard sport



Yvonne Ojijo (left) and Christine Shambi carry the flag after finishing first and second at the Africa Duathlon Championship in Namibia. [Courtesy, Standard]

Kenya made its entry into the continental duathlon stage in style after winning three medals on its first appearance at the 2021 Africa Duathlon Championship, which was held in Namibia over the weekend.

Although the sport is still relatively new in the country, the 27-year-old Yvonne Ojijo led her compatriot Christine Shambi to a double victory in the age group of women 25-29 women – sprint.

The weekend was historic not only for Kenya, but also for Namibia, which hosted their first championship.

Ojijo’s win came just minutes after Mungai Kairuki’s third place in the Juniors.

Born just a year after Shambi (1993), Ojijo hit 1:28:46 AM while the latter hit 1:29:26 AM at a photo-finish event in the heart of Namibia’s capital.

Mungai reached 1:12:39 a.m., just 0.03 seconds behind the Namib Nicholas Du Plessis, who clocked 1:09 a.m. 35 for second place.

Homeboy Johannes Van Der Wesrguizen took first place after the time of 01:02:56.

James Mwaura was the top-placed Kenyan in the men’s elite race after settling for fourth place. The Namibian Joan-Paul Burger took first place with 01:51:57 o’clock ahead of the South African duo Dylan Kruger (01:56:26) and Jonathan Benjamin, who finished 01:56:41 o’clock.

Gabriel Ambeba, Eddy Odhiambo and Gideon Rutto finished fifth, six and seven in that order.

Kenya, on the other hand, had a relatively disappointing outcome in the women’s junior race, in which the participants covered 5 km in the first run, 19.98 km by bike and 2.5 km in the second run. Vivian Hiller was the top Kenyan in fifth place, while Terry Kariuki was ninth.

This event, which was also held in Namibia for the first time, drew over 50 participants, most of them from Kenya, Namibia and South Africa with the most registrations.

The NTF is hoping for at least 150 entries, while athletes from all over Africa are expected to compete for the title of African Duathlon Champion of 2021.

Kenya made her duathlon debut on the continental stage.

For Kenyan athletes, attention will now shift to the National African Championship (Sprint), which will be held in Mombasa on November 6th.

Continental duathlon in South Africa

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