[PHOTOS & VIDEO] Kenya dominates athletics race at Military Games

Kenyan military runners dominated the athletics race at the ongoing 10th edition of the East African Military games at IPRC - Kigali, yesterday.

Tuesday, August 09, 2016

Times Reporter

From the beginning, the eventual top three (2014, 2013 and 2011) were in front. / Faustin Niyigena

Kenyan military runners dominated the athletics race at the ongoing 10th edition of the East African Military games at IPRC - Kigali, yesterday.

Emmanuel Kipsanga won the 10km race after breaking away from the lead pack with a few meters left to reach the finish line in a time of 27: 15: 68 minutes.

"Team work was the key to our victory; we had planned to do it just like how it occurred in Kampala last year. We were both tactically and technically better than the other teams,” Kipsanga said shortly after the race.

The winner SPTE Emmanuel Kipsang (#2014) used 27’1568', 1st runner-up PTE Flanklin Celel (#2011) used 27’1610' while 2nd runner-up SPTE Stephen Arita used 27’1715'. / Faustin Niyigena.

Gold, silver and bronze medals were given to 6 winners, females and males. / Faustin Niyigena.

Other Kenyans, Private Franklin Ocelel and Superintendent Stephen Arita finished second and third, respectively, with a time of 27:16: 10 and 27: 17: 15 respectively.

All the winners in a group photo with officials at the event. / Faustin Niyigena.

An Inganzo Ngari dancer performs. / Faustin Niyigena

Private Nelson Fabiano of Tanzania was sixth, Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) athlete Sgt Alex Chesakit was 7th and the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) runner, Sgt Joseph Nzirorera came in the 8th position.

The three Kenyan men and three women who finished on the podium after the cross-country race yesterday. / Faustin Niyigena.

"The Kenyans as usual dominated the race because they are good at it and it’s their game. We have to train so hard so that we can win the games next year. We also need the fans to be around so that we can be motivated during the race,” Sgt Nzirorera said.

Major General Mubarakh Muganga speaks at the closure of yesterday's cross-country race. / Faustin Niyigena.

Kenya was the best team in the male category followed by Uganda. Rwanda came third and Tanzania finished fourth in general rankings. Out of 24 male athletes, 21 finished the race.

Inganzo Ngari Ballet entertains the audience at IPRC Kigali.

Meanwhile, the women’s race was an all-Kenyan affair as Warrant Corporal Sheila Chepkiryi clocked 31:17:18 minutes to win. Her fellow Kenyan runners Private Goyceline Chepkosgei and Private Judith Chemutai came second and third respectively.

Sgt Joseph Nzirorera finished in eighth position, the highest finish for Rwanda. / Faustin Niyigena.

PTE Joseph Theophile (#3006) from Tanzania finished in 20th position. / Faustin Niyigena.

The EAC Military Sports and Culture events started early this week and will continue with four sports disciplines namely; Football (men), Netball (women), Basketball (men) and Handball (men).

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