This archive report was first published on 30 August 2019.
Published on August 30, 2019, Kenyan distance runner Titus Ekiru made history by becoming the first Kenyan to win the half marathon at the African Games in Rabat, Morocco.
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 Moroccan runners Reda Elaaraby and Hamza Sahli, who finished 62 seconds later in 1:02:44 and 1:02:45 respectively, denying Kenyans Morris Munene and Panuel Mkungo a podium place.
Ekiru's victory marked a significant milestone for Kenya, as the country's best previous performance in the half marathon at the African Games was a silver medal won by Kenneth Kipkemboi in 2011 and Luka Kanda in 2015.
The half marathon was introduced at the African Games in 2003, replacing the full marathon that had been featured since the second edition in 1973.
