School Games: All Saints, Embu and Butula Qualify for Rugby 15s Semi-Finals.
The National Secondary Schools Term One Games continued on the second day with the 3000m steeplechase being the highlight of the event. The Rift Valley region proved to be the strongest, with hosts Rift Valley winning both the boys’ and girls’ races.
Matthew Kipkosgei from St. Francis Kimuron High School won the boys’ race, clocking in at 9.01.09, while Anne Naenkop from Kiambogo Secondary School won the girls’ race with a time of 11.18.00. Both winners expressed their desire to represent Kenya well in the East Africa School Games in Rwanda and make their country proud.
Kipkosgei, the son of former steeplechaser William Koskei, who won the 1988 World Junior championship in the race, said his father’s advice to relax and focus on the race helped him win.
He also attributed his win to the tribulations he has faced in the past, including missing the U-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, due to officials claiming he lacked experience. Ezekiel Ruto from St. Mathias Mulumba Secondary School finished second, securing Rift Valley’s victory in the boys’ category.
In the girls’ category, Naenkop took the lead from the 3rd lap and won the race, followed by Sharon Chepkirui from Kiptere Secondary School in second place and Vivian Chepchumba in third place. The two winners from the boys’ and girls’ races will represent Kenya in the East Africa School Games in Kigali, Rwanda, in August this year.
Butula Boys to Semis
In the Cross Country race held at Moi Girls, Eldoret, Raphael Dapash from Mutarakwa Secondary School won the boys’ category, while Alice Chemtai from AIC Bibiriet High School won the girls’ category. The Rugby 15s matches saw All Saints, Embu from Eastern and Butula from Western qualify for the semi-finals from Pools A and B, respectively.
On the third day, the preliminaries continued with matches between St. Patricks and Mang’u, Ofafa Jericho and All Saints in Pool A, and St. Anthony’s and Kwale, and Kisii and Butula in Pool B. The National Secondary Schools Term One Games provide an excellent platform for young athletes to showcase their talent and pursue their dreams of representing Kenya at an international level.
School Games: All Saints, Embu and Butula Qualify for Rugby 15s Semi-Finals.