Kenya finish fifth at World Athletics Under-20 championships

Kenya completed the World Athletics under 20 championships in position five with seven medals.

With the five day championships curtains coming down at the at the Estadio Atlético de la Videna here in Lima, Peru, Kenya won three gold medals, three silver and a bronze to wrap up the championships.

Team captain Edmund Serem won the last gold for the country in the 3,000m steeplechase leading Matthew Kosgei to silver in an all Kenyan 1-2 podium finish.

Serem reclaimed the title that was last won by his brother Amos Serem in the 2021 edition in Nairobi.

He crossed the finish line at 8:15.28 to keep the steeplechase name in their family as compatriot Kosgei won silver in 8:17.46 as personal best and Ethiopia’s Hailu Ayalew settled for bronze with a personal best of 8:24.08.

“As a team leader I had to show the way despite the event coming in the last day. The team did well and as the games come to the end, we have a reason to work hard and focus on the 2028 Olympic Games,” said Serem.

Kosgei attributed the win to the support he gets from both his father and mother who were athletes in their hey days.

“I am so happy to have bagged silver due to stiff competition that was witnessed in the race. I really appreciate my friend Serem for encouraging me to hang on and I have to continue training for the next assignments because I have finished the junior event. I know my father is a happy man because he asked me to work hard and I have delivered,” said Kosgei.

Africa 800m champion Sarah Moraa won the 800m title on the penultimate day of championships.

As the only runner at the final, she clocked 2:00.36, beating Australia’s Claudia Hollingsworth to second, timing 2:00.87 and USA’s Sophia Gorriaran settling for bronze at 2:01.04.

The ever smiling Moraa said that the victory has boosted her morale ahead of 2025 World Championships that will be staged in Tokyo, Japan.

“I’m so happy to have won this gold my first ever in the world championships on my debut. I really want to continue training in readiness for World Championships,” said Moraa who trains under Alex Sang.

Double Commonwealth Games silver medalist Andrew Kiptoo Alamisi won the first gold for Kenya on the first day of the championships on Tuesday.

The Africa Under 18 championships 1,500m silver medalist in Zambia last year, Alamisi won the 5,000m title, for first medal and gold for the country.

“I really wanted win this gold because of my preparations and to my country. I want to thank God for helping be win my first gold,” said Alamisi, the 1,500m and 3,000m Commonwealth Youth silver medalist.

He won the title after clocking 13:41.14 ahead of Ethiopian Abdisa Fayisa (13:41.56) with Ugandan Keneth Kiprop winding  up the podium with 13:41.73 as his season best.

Former world cross country junior champion Ishamael Kipkurui Rokitto managed 4th position after running with an injury.

“This is my last year in juniors and I will be chasing for a place in the world cross countryy and World championships. However, I did my best to finish 4th because I have not been training becuase of my nagging injury. The results are good for me,” said Kipkurui.

The second silver was won by Marion Jepngetich yesterday in the 3,000m when she crossed the finish line at 8:52.37 behind Ethiopia’s Aleshign Baweke (8:50.32) with compatriot Marta Alemayo winning bronze in 8:53.64.

“We had little time to train because we only had our semifinals yesterday under ran and today we face off at the finals, but I’m happy to have medal,” said Jepngetich.

Denis Kipkoech won the first silver for the country when he timed 8:20.79 behind Norwegian Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen (8:20.56) with Great Britain’s Edward Bird going for bronze at 8:21.00.

The single bronze medal came from the Diana Chepkemoi when she timed 9:29.84 in her new personal best with Ethiopian Sembo Almayew winning gold in 9:12.71 in the new championships record with Uganda’s Loice Chepkwemoi scooping silver with personal best of 9:18.84.

Kenya medals in Lima

Gold medalists

1 Edmund Serem- 3,000m steeplechase

2 Sarah Moraa- 800m

3Andrew Kiptoo Alamisi- 5,000m

Silver medalists

1 Matthew Kosgei- 3,000m steeplechase

2 Marion Jepngetich- 3,000m

3 Denis Kipkoech- 3,000m

Bronze medal

1 Diana Chepkemoi- 3,000m steeplechase