Safaricom calls for support for Kenyan Sprinters

David Rudisha receives a 2 million-shilling cheque from Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore

Kenya is internationally referred to as an athletics powerhouse following the consistent and remarkable performance in athletic events. However, the decoration is a reserve of long and middle-distance runners. Sprints and field events on the other hand have continued to show dismal performance.

Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore has urged the government and other stakeholders to support the growth of sprint and field sports in the country.

Mary Nakhumicha Zakayo wins Whan Youn Dai Award

Kenya’s Mary Nakhumicha Zakayo and Ireland’s Michael McKillop have been announced by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as the 2012 winners of the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award.  
The two athletes were selected for exemplifying the best spirit of the Paralmypic Games, and they will each receive a gold medal at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics scheduled for Sunday, September 9. 

David Korir wins Silver for Kenya

David Korir came in second to win Kenya’s first silver in the men’s 1500m - T13 at day seven of the ongoing London Paralympics Games.  

Korir posted a time of 3:48.84 to finish behind Tunisia's Abderrahim Zhiou who smashed the world record in a time of 3:48.31. Great Britain’s David Devine crossed the finish line in 3:49.79 to take bronze.

Samuel Kimani bags Gold in new World Record

Samuel Muchai Kimani bagged Kenya’s first Gold in the ongoing London Paralympics after comfortably cruising to the finish line in the men’s T11 1500m at the Olympic Stadium on Monday evening.

Kimani who is visually impaired was guided by James Boit to finish in a new Paralympic record of 3:58.07. The 22-year-old smashed the world record set by Brazils Odair Santos by nearly six seconds. World Champion Santos took second place while Canada’s Jason Joseph Dunkerly guided by Josh Karanja settled for bronze.

Team captain Henry Kirwa secured the second medal for Kenya after finished third for the Bronze medal in the men’s T12 5000m won by Morocco’s El Amin Chentouf in a new record of 13:53.76.

Hongera!

David Korir breaks record to qualify for 1500m finals

David Korir broke the African Paralympics record to qualify for the men’s 1500m –T13 final on Sunday, in the ongoing 2012 Paralympics Games at Olympic Stadium in London.

28-year-old Korir who was competing in T13 category (for the least visually impaired athletes) won his heat in a personal best of 3:52.96 to break the African Paralympics record.

Korir will be up against triple gold medalist and Kenya’s team captain Henry Kirwa who also advanced to the finals slated for Tuesday.

Kirwa finished second in his heat posting a time of 3:55.35 and is set to defend his title in the 5000m – T12 on Monday.

Meanwhile, Hanna Mwangi who was competing in the 400m – T12 was disqualified for running outside of her lane.  

Samuel Kimani qualifies for 1500m finals

Samuel Mushai Kimani won heat 1 to qualify for the men’s 1500m T11 final at the ongoing 2012 London Paralympics Games on Friday afternoon.  

Kimani who is visually impaired was guided by James Boit to cross the finish line in a personal best of 4:09.44. Canada’s Jason Joseph Dunkerley guided by Josh Karanja came second in 4:13.67 ahead of Colombia’s William Sosa guided by Chavarro Cesar (4:15.66).  

In heat 2, Immanuel Kipkosgei Cheruiyot with his guide Robert Tarus (4:31.77) finished last in a race won in 4:14.95 by world record holder Odair Santos of Brazil.

The finals are slated for Monday  3rd. 

Kenyan Paralympics Team to the 2012 London Olympics

London 2012 Paralympics Games kicks off today with the much-anticipated opening ceremony dubbed ‘Enlightenment’ and the athlete parade where 4,000 athletes from 162 countries will match donning their national colors in pride.   

Kenya will be looking to continue with its good performance at the games after scooping nine medals (five gold, three silver and one bronze) and finishing 26^th overall in the Beijing Games four years ago.  

The Kenyan squad is led by triple gold medalists Henry Kirwa who is keen to defend three titles at the 14^th Paralympics in London.

World Deaf Athletics Championships - Kenya

Friday – University of Toronto’s Varsity Centre, Canada

Kenya concluded their campaign in the 2^nd edition of the World Deaf Athletics Championships in Toronto, Canada in fourth position in the overall medal standings. Kenya bagged a total of 10 medals (4 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze) behind leaders Russia with 42 medals, Ukraine with 17 and Belarus who finished third.

On the last day of the championships, Bexton Menjo and Beryl Atieno dashed to bag 2 gold medals in their respective races. In the men’s 800m, Captain Menjo won in a leading time of 1:52.26 ahead of Russia’s Andrey Andreev who finished in 1:52.91. His fellow countryman Justus Kipkemboi came in third place in a time of 1:53.92.

In the women’s 200m, the recently crowned 100m silver medalist Beryl Atieno bragged the second gold in a remarkable time of 24.76. She was closely followed by Russia’s Ksenia Golovina who clocked 24.98 ahead of Belarus’ Alena Tsiarentsyeva who finished in a time of 25.43.

In the men’s 200m, David Wamira dashed to second place in a time of 22.16 behind of Ukraine’s Myoka Nosenko who clocked 21.97.

World Deaf Athletics Championships - Kenya

Tuesday – University of Toronto’s Varsity Centre, Canada

  

World Deaf Athletics Championships 2012 - Kenya

Tuesday – University of Toronto’s Varsity Centre, Canada

In the men’s 1500m, Captain Baxton Menjo retained the title after posting a leading time of 3:48.69 ahead of compatriot Simon Kibai who finished in 3:49.14. Third place was reserved for Russia’s Andrey Andreev who clocked 3:58.48.

In the men’s 10,000m, Daniel Kiptum defended his title in a time of 30:17.79, leading a Kenyan podium sweep of David Kipkoech (30:18.03) and Peter Toroitich (30:18.70) respectively.

In the women’s 100m, it was another impressive display from Beryl Atieno who dashed to finish second in 12:34 behind Cuba’s Suslaidy Rivero who took gold in 11.84. Third place went to Belarus’ Tatsi Chebatarova.

Kenya holds second place in the overall medal standing with six medals; 2 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze behind leaders Russia with ten medals (3 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze).

In other news: Kenyan athletes are awaiting the Monaco Diamond League that will be held in France on Friday with the likes of World 1,500m silver medalist Silas Kiplagat set to compete.  

In football: Kenyan Premier League champions Tusker FC will start their 2012 CECAFA Kagame Club Cup campaign against Zanzibar’s Mafunzo on Thursday. Tusker has remarkably won the championship five times and is now chasing its sixth title in Group C, which also includes Tanzania’s Azam.  

Paralympian: Henry Wanyoike

Paralympian: Henry Wanyoike

He was born on 10^th May 1974 in Kikuyu, Kiambu County. He is a Marathon world record holder and triple Paralympics gold medalist. He started his running career while still in school and in 1995, he suddenly lost his sight to a stroke. After the ordeal, Wanyoike never gave up and went along to win his first gold medal at the Paralympics Games in Sydney, Australia in 2000.