This archive report was first published on 30 August 2019.
On Friday, August 30, 2019, the African Games in Rabat, Morocco, witnessed a historic moment for Kenya when Titus Ekiru became the first Kenyan to win the half marathon title.
Ekiru, a champion of the 2019 Milano Marathon and winner of the 2018 Mexico City and Honolulu Marathons, clocked 1 hour, 1 minute, and 42 seconds to secure the gold medal.
He outpaced the Moroccan challenge of Reda Elaaraby and Hamza Sahli, who finished 62 seconds later in 1:02:44 and 1:02:45, respectively, denying Kenyans Morris Munene (1:02:51) and Panuel Mkungo (1:03:10) a podium place.
Ekiru's victory marked a significant milestone for Kenya, as the best performance before his win was a silver medal by Kenneth Kipkemboi in 2011 (Maputo) and Luka Kanda in 2015 (Brazzaville).
The African Games introduced the half marathon race in 2003, adapting it from the full marathon that had featured since the second edition in 1973.
Ekiru's achievement came moments after his compatriots failed to impress in the women's race, which was dominated by Ethiopians who swept all the podium places.
