Team Kenya have emerged overall winner of the 2018 African Senior Athletics Championship in Asaba. In total, Team Kenya won 11 Gold, 6 Silver and 2 Bronze followed by South Africa with 9 Gold, 13 Silver and 8 Bronze.
Hosts Nigeria finished with 9 Gold, 5 Silver and 5 Bronze.
At the end of day 4, Kenya were third on the medal table with 5 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze behind Nigeria and South Africa who were on pole position to retain the title they won in Durban 2016. 6 Gold, 4 Silver and 1 Bronze won on the last day ensured Kenya emerged overall winner of the 21st African Athletics Championship.
3000m steeplechase and World Record holder, Beatrice Chepkoech was excited to win the Gold medal.
“I’m so grateful about today’s performance. We planned that the three Kenyans come out first second and third before we start running and we did.”
Chepkoech who broke the world record in Monaco last year said she still enjoyed her stay in Nigeria despite the challenges faced before the Championship started.
Morocco, Ethiopia, Coted I’voire, Tunisia, Botswana, Egypt and Burkina Faso finished fourth to tenth respectively.
Gold medallists will be awarded $3000, Silver medallists $2000 while $1000 will be given to Bronze medal winners. 23 countries from the 53 who participated in the Championship recorded a podium finish in Asaba.
Meanwhile, Algeria has been picked to host the next African Athletics Championship in 2020.