Despite falling to John Koech in the 1,500m final at the Safaricom national Deaf Athletics championships, triple Deaflympics champion Simon Kibai recovered to end the two-day event with two gold medals at Eldoret’s Kipchoge Keino Stadium.
Kibai bagged the distance double—the 5000m late on Tuesday and the 10,000m yesterday— to book his slot in Team Kenya to the 2017 Deaflympic Games set for July 18-30 in Turkey.
The 29-year-old athlete who trains in Iten made the cut in the 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m. In the 10,000m, the lone ranger on the track opened a wide gap to brilliantly win the race in 30:24.3, edging out Peter Toroitich to second in 30:46.2 as Daniel Kiptum sealed the podium in 31:16.1.
David Kiptum settled for fourth in 31:57.9 while Martin Gachie (32:19.2) and David Njeru (33:04.4) all hit the elusive ‘A’ standard qualifying mark of 33:15.00.
Kibai celebrated the victory with her daughter saying, he wants her to follow in his footsteps.
“I wanted her to come and see me running at the stadium because I want to make her love athletics at an early age. I am happy to have qualified to represent Kenya in Turkey,” he explained.
Juster Kwamesa, who settled for third in the women’s 5000m on Tuesday, bagged the 10,000m title after clocking 42:34.3 to qualify for the Turkey extravaganza alongside second-placed Roselida Okumu, who was inside the ‘B’ standard qualifying mark of 44:35.00 after timing 43:52.9. Jentrix Dindi (45:05.2), Laureen Ngonga (46:03.0) and Caren Nasingo (46:51.6) completed the top five places.
Linet Nanjala was the only successful 400m hurdler after winning the race in 71.03 to surpass the ‘B’ standard qualifying time of 71:50. Saul Mwanthi won the men’s version in 58.2 followed by Dennis Kiprop (58.9) to qualify in the 59:40 ‘B’ standard qualifying time.