Team Kenya had no equals at the African Championships once again as the country emerged tops in the medal standings to solidify their status as the kings of the continent.
Kenya has once again demonstrated its supremacy in athletics by topping the medal standings at the 2024 African Athletics Championships in Douala, Cameroon, securing a remarkable 19 medals.
This stellar performance saw Kenya retain their status as the Athletics Kings of Africa, a title they previously won in 2022 in Mauritius.
Team Kenya won 10 gold, five silver and eight bronze medals in Cameroon despite the chaotic nature of the event that had several athletes complain of poor treatment.
Leading the charge for Kenya was Julius Yego, the 2015 world champion, who won a record fifth African javelin title with a throw of 80.24m.
Kenya’s men’s 4x400m relay team of David Sanayiek, Kelvin Kipkorir, Zablon Ekwam and Boniface Mweresa won silver behind Botswana as Zambia grabbed bronze while in the women’s 1500m final, Caroline Nyaga won silver as Brian Komen and Boaz Kiprugut took home gold and bronze, respectively in the men’s equivalent.
Meanwhile, Kenyans had no equals in the women’s 800m when Sarah Moraa and Lilian Odira won bronze and silver while Leah Jeruto claimed bronze in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, the same medal Roncer Kipkorir Konga secured in the men’s 10,000m.
Herriston Wanyonyi won another gold medal for Kenya in the men’s 20km walk with Margaret Gati Chacha taking home bronze medal in the women’s equivalent.
Another gold arrived from Gladys Kwamboka brought the crowd to their feet at Stade De Japoma with a 34:37.43 display to win the women’s 10,000m with compatriot Rebecca Mwangi finishing second to grab silver.
Kenya also won gold in the men’s 800m trough Alex Kipnegtich Ngeno who produced a gun to tape performance.
Yego was not the only man to make history in Doula as Edwin Too won bronze in the men’s decathlon, earning Kenya its first medal in the event in 42 years.
Too had won silver at the delayed 2023 African Games in Accra, Ghana in March.