Kenya Prison, Samuel Gathimba and Emily Ngii from Kenya Defense Forces are the new champions of the 20km Olympic male and female race.
Gathimba, a Kenyan Prison police, outperformed Yohanis Algaw from Ethiopia in the thrilling completion of the sprint to win the men’s event in 1 hour, 22 minutes and 48 seconds and finished the continent doubles on Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco.
It was a big win for Gathimba, who was forced to receive a silver medal during the 2015 Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo, losing the battle against Lebogang Shange South Africa in 1: 26.43 against 1: 26.44.
This time, Algaw, who chased home to get silver at 1:22:50, when Wayne Snyman from South Africa in 1:23:38 received bronze.
His compatriot Gathimba, Simon Wachira, finished fourth in 1:24:40.
Gathimba, who also won the 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medal, defended her African title last year, clocking 1:25:14 in the championship held in Asaba, Nigeria.
It was Kenya’s first victory since the exploitation of David Kimutai at the 1999 African Olympics in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Ngii, a Kenyan Defense Forces Corporal, finally enjoyed his glorious day when he dropped his arch-rival and team-mate Grace Wanjiru to second place.
Ngii plays at home at 1:34:41 to get rid of six-time African champion Wanjiru at 1:34:57. Yehualeye Beletew from Ethiopia takes bronze at 1:35:21.
The writing was on the wall for Ngii after he defeated Wanjiru for the first time at the Kenya Defense Forces Championship at 1:39:09 on July 3 this year, before adjusting the victory, winning another victory in a trial for the African Games on June 22 in 1:38 : 43.
Wanjiru each placed second in 1:39:27 and 1:39:31.