Three time Deaflymics champion Simon Kibai. [Photo/hivisasa.com]
Three time Deaflymics champion Simon Kibai once again lit the Kipchoge Keino stadium in Eldoret town as curtains came down for the Safaricom Deaf Athletics championships, Wednesday.
Having already won the 5000m race in the first day of the championships, Kibai was considered favorite to win the 10000m race and he did not disappoint his fans and family who were watching from the stands.
Kibai who hails from Uasin Gishu county but trains in the neighboring Elgeyo Marakwet county crossed the line first after 30:24:3 ahead of Peter Toroitich (30:46:2) from Turkana and Uasin Gishu's Daniel Kiptum (31:16:1) who finished second and third respectively.
The three will now represent Kenya in the 23rd Summer Deaflympics that will take place in Samsun, Turkey from July 18 to July 30, 2017 after attaining the ‘A’ standard with time.
During the the 22nd Summer Deaflympics championships in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2013, Kibai won golds in 10000m, 5000m and 1500m races.
In the Women's 10,000m race, the ever fit Juster Kwamesa recorded a ‘B’ standard qualifying time of 43:34:3 to book a place in the team that will represent the country in the July Deaflympics Games.
Roselinda Okumu from Kakamega County clocked 43:52:9 to finish second and also qualify in the ‘B’ standard.
Saulo Mwanthi from Nairobi and Dennis Kiprop from Nandi will represent the county in the 400m men hurdles category after finishing first and second respectively.
Linet Nanjala from Nairobi County was the only qualifier in the ‘B’ standard with a time of 71.3 in the women 400 meter hurdles race.