RWANDAN ATHLETES Cyriaque Ndayikengurukiye and Pontien Ntawuyirushintege could not make medal brackets but managed to improve their personal best time  on their debut in the 5000m final of the Commonwealth Games held on Sunday at Hampden Track.

Ndayikengurukiye whose national record has been at 13:59.94, finished a distant 16th clocking 13:50.55 while Ntawuyirushintege finished 17th clocking 14:03.93, improving from 14:28.41 he registered in the national trials early this year.

Kenyan Caleb Mwangagi Ndiku raced to gold and snatched the first track medal at the Commonwealth Games as Kenya took a one-two in the men’s 5,000m final.

Ndiku, 21, the world indoor 3,000m champion, took advantage of Olympic and world champion Mo Farah’s absence to produce a performance to match his golden hair.

He won a pulsating final in 13 minutes, 12.07 seconds on a drizzly night at Hampden Park. Compatriot Isiah Koech took silver in 13:14.06 as the Kenyan pair overtook New Zealand twins Jake and Zane Robertson, who had led for much of the race.

Zane took the bronze in 13:16.52, a season’s best. Farah, who won the 5,000m and 10,000m titles at the London 2012 Olympics and the world championships in Moscow last year, withdrew from the Games last week due to illness.

Boxing:

Nshingiro lost to Ghanian Lartey Jessie in the Men’s Light (60kg) Round of 16 on Sunday. Nshingiro who is making his debut in the games lost 0-3 win on points. In all the three rounds, he scored 9 to 10 of Jessie.

 In the Men’s Light (60kg) Round of 16, Jean Maurice Bikorimana lost to Prince Aaron from Trinidad & Tobago 0-3 win on points.

Swimming:

Patrick Rukundo’s poor performance continued as he finished sixth in heat two of the 50m men’s freestyle which was held yesterday at Tollcross Swimming Centre. He clocked 27:30 to finish ahead of Ugandan Kisulo Arnold who clocked 27:66.

 In Sunday’s 50 Breaststroke, Rukundo finished last in heat one, clocking 34:33 seconds.

Action continues today with Timothy Robert Bagina and Ntakiyimana Emmanuel taking part in the 800m heat stages at 14.00 hours while Clementine Mukandanga and Mukasakindi Claudette will compete in the 10000m women final at 2000 hours, all will be held at Hampden Track.