Mkungo siblings win Coast Cross Country titles

Star athlete Panuel Mkungo and his sister Irene Wawuda Mkungo Saturday won the men and women 10 kilometers titles respectively during Athletics Kenya Coast Regional Cross Country Championships at Shimo Annex in Mombasa. 

Three new records were set in the men's Under-20 8km, women's Under-20 women 6km and the Under-18 girls 5km races.

Mkungo, who retained his crown in a slow time of 32 minutes 28 seconds, said the hot humid conditions of Mombasa prevented him from running faster.

“It is too hot down here and despite returning slow time, I’m happy to have retained my title,” said the US-based athlete.    

His sister Irene said she was happy to have won the race despite posting a slow time of 51:50 which she also blamed on the hot conditions. Irene had finished third in Taita Taveta county event last week in a time of 44:35. 

“I’ve been waiting for this time to win any athletics event. I want to follow my brother’s footstep to become a top international runner,” said Irene, an 18-year-old Form Four student at David Kitavi Secondary School. 

Mkungo’s team mates Elijah Mwangi and Boniface Nduva settled second and third in 32:30 and 32:33 respectively. 

Irene was followed by her Taita Taveta team mate Eunice Koronge who timed 51:54 while Gladys Ngowa of Kwale wound up third in 52:34.

The first record set was in Under-20 women 6km event where athletes from the Rainbow of Magnolia Fountains of Life training camp dominated with 16-year-old Agnes Mwashigadi winning in a new record time of 27:45 shattering Beatrice Mwandoto's time of 28:70 set last year. 

Mwashigadi's team mates, Philes Malemba and Jardine Malemba finished second and third in 27:46 and 27:50 respectively. 

Another record was set in Under-20 men 8km event by David Manthi of Taita Taveta who timed 25:11 breaking the previous record, 26:72 which was held by Juma Mghanga.

Manthi's team mates Dennis Mutuku (25:21) was second while Stephen Ngotiek (25:29) finished third. 

The other new record holder was Taita Taveta’s Josephine Sembeyu of Rainbow camp who won the Under-18 girls 5km event in a time of 26:24 shattering the previous record time of 27:70 held by Faid Hassan. 

Sembeyu's team mate Maria Shali finished second in 26:40 while Beatrice Chao also of Taita Taveta settled third in 26:41. 

The Under-18 boys 6km was dominated by Taita Taveta athletes where Caleb Munyao won in 20:06 followed by Boniface Mutia in second place in 20:08 while Simon King’oo finished third in 20:99.

Summarised results 

10km senior men:

1. Panuel Mkungo, Taita Taveta (32:28)

2. Elijah Mwangi, Taita Taveta (32:30)

3. Boniface Nduva, Taita Taveta (32:33)

4. Joshua Maingi, Taita Taveta (34:44)

5. Erick Okoth, Kilifi (35:55)

6. Samuel Muema, Taita Taveta (36:19)

10km senior women:

1. Irene Wawuda Mkungo, Taita Taveta (51:50)

2. Eunice Koronge, Taita Taveta (51:54)

3. Gladys Ngowa, Kilifi (52:34)

4. Kamene Safari, Kilifi (54:50)

5. Rose Nyange, Taita Taveta (57:13)

6. Angeline Wasai, Taita Taveta (60:05)

8km junior men Under-20:

1. Daniel Manthi, Taita Taveta (25:11)

2. Dennis Mutuku, Taita Taveta (25:21)

3. Stephen Ngotiek, Taita Taveta (25:29)

4. Sampson Mayaini, Taita Taveta (25:42)

5. Kaingu Martin, Kilifi (27:02)

6. Jason Mwamachi, Taita Taveta (27:04)

6km junior women Under-20:

1. Agnes Mwashigadi, Taita Taveta (27:45)

2. Philkes Malemba, Taita Taveta (27:46)

3. Jardine Malemba, Taita Taveta (27:50)

4. Jesline Wakesho, Taita Taveta (27:55)

5. Catherine Mwatika, Taita Taveta (28:75)

6. Firdaus Ishika, Taita Taveta (29:42)

6km boys Under-18:

1. Caleb Munyao, Taita Taveta (20:06)

2. Boniface Mutia, Taita Taveta (20:08)

3. Simon King’oo, Taita Taveta (20:99)

4. Daniel Makau, Taita Taveta (21:04)

5. Brian Mwoo, Taita Taveta (21:34)

6. John Mbesa, Taita Taveta (22:52)

5km girls Under-18:

1. Josephine Sembeyu, Taita Taveta (26:24)

2. Maria Shali, Taita Taveta (26:40)

3. Beatrice Chao, Taita Taveta (26:41)

4. Milka Mashaka, Taita Taveta (26:99)

5. Gloria Machocho, Taita Taveta (27:02)

6. Esther Ndau, Kilifi (27:82)