This archive report was first published on 22 August 2019.
Published on August 22, 2019, in Arusha, Tanzania, Stanley Mativo witnessed Kenya's Team for the ongoing East Africa Schools games in Arusha, Tanzania, dominating the first day of athletics.
The team claimed five gold and two silver medals, signaling their quest to sweep all available medals.
Kenya reigned supreme in the 1,500m for both categories, 10,000m boys, 5,000m for girls, and javelin events as the two-day tourney kicked off at the Sheik Abeid Stadium in Arusha.
Fast-rising Solomon Bitok from Sochoi School won the 1,000m event, clocking 2:29.7, followed by Tanzanian Matayo Sombi, who finished with a time of 2:30.1.
Meanwhile, Cornelius Kemboi from St. Patrick's IT crossed the finishing line with his personal best of 3:52.8 in the 1,500m event, while Felix Korir finished runners-up, clocking 3:56, just four seconds behind.
Janeth Chepkoech from Kenya emerged victorious in the corresponding girls' contest, crossing the line with a time of 4:34.5, while Ugandan Ajupo Babra came second.
Additionally, Feciliana Kanda from Kapsait School clinched the gold in the 5,000m race, clocking 17:13.6, ahead of Cheptoyek Joy from Uganda, who came second with a timing of 17:59.5.
Elsewhere, national football boy's runners-up Dagoretti continued their fairytale run, storming the semi-finals on Thursday.
The Nairobi-based team defeated LDK Rwanda 2-1 in the quarters, easing their way to the last four, and they will carry a sense of duty at the boy's football contest after fellow countrymen and national champions St. Anthony's Kitale crashed out in the quarters.
Dagoretti will face defending champions Buddo from Uganda in the semis on Friday, and head coach Joseph Makoha believes the underdog tag has worked for them.
"We are taking one game at a time and expect our mesmeric run to continue, although I know Buddo will be a hard nut to crack since they are the defending champions," he charged.
