Kenyan girls bag gold and silver

It was another good day at the office for the Kenya team here after a gold and silver medal winning performance by Lucy Kabuu and Evelyne Wambui respectively in the women’s 10,000 metres final.

There were also two bronze medal guarantees from boxing as light welterweight Moses Mathenge and light heavyweight Joshua Makonjio Ndere reached semi final berths. The two boxers, light welterweight Moses Mathenge and light heavyweight Joshua Makonjio Ndere are now assured of a bronze medal each.

However, the day belonged to Kabuu and Wambui who turned the 10,000 m race a Kenyan contest when they pulled away from Mara Yamauchi of England (bronze) with three laps to go and raced each other to the finish line.

Wambui seemed assured of the gold with less than a hundred metres but the little Kabuu, summoned up her last reserves of strength after to steam past her team mate and claim the gold medal.

Running shoes in hand, she hobbed from one little bare aching foot to another as she patiently answered all questions from a long line of scribes in the tunnel at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a bright smile lighting up her face.

"It has been a long tough race but now that I have won the gold, I don’t feel any exhaustion," she told the Daily Nation.

The gold will be a perfect birthday present for Kabuu who turns 23 on Friday.

"I’m very happy for myself, for Evelyne, for all the members of the Kenya team here and for the people at home because I know they were all cheering us on," Kabuu added.

Kabuu was born in Nyeri and went to Matuto Primary School before heading to Japan for her secondary school education. She runs for the Suzuki company and said the gold would enhance her reputation with her employers.

However with the good came the not so good. It was not a fruitful day for Daniel Katonon (400m hurdles) and Viola Kibiwott (women’s 1,500m final). Katonon came home last in his first round heat in 52-89 while Kibiwott could only manage seventh position overall in the three laps which she covered in 4:08.78.

She can only take consolation that it was her best effort this season.

Although Kenya lost heavyweight James Wasao who fell to Australian Bradley Pitt 22-2 inside two rounds, it was joy at the Melbourne Exhibition where Mathenge and Makonjio Ndere, both from the Armed Forcers, guaranteed Kenya’s first boxing medals here.

Ndere stayed in control of his bout against Ajay Kumar of India for a convincing 18-10 win. He now faces Nigerian Adura Olalehin in the semi-final tomorrow.

Mathenge overcame Wayne Commons of New Zealand coming from 3-6 at the end of the opening round to win take the subsequent rounds 11-6, 5-4 and 12-2. Moses Lopo of Lesotho is the man who stands between him and a chance to fight for the gold.