By FeverPitch Reporter
The Nyanza leg of the Deaf Athletics Association of Kenya (DAAK) trials saw three siblings shine to qualify for the national championships.
Siblings Beryl Atieno, Rachel Achieng’ and David Warima exhibited sterling performances during the championships held at Kisumu’s Moi Stadium at the weekend.
Atieno, of Nyangoma, Kisumu County, clocked 12:5.00 seconds to win the women’s 100m, followed by Nancy Kerubo of Kisii County in 13:69.00 seconds and her sister Achieng’ (14:64.00).
“I’m happy to book a ticket to represent Nyanza during the national championships set for Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium between June 4 and 5,” said Atieno.
“Inspired by our father Bartholomew Wamira, who was a good footballer and athlete, we have been performing well as a family,” she added.
In the boys’ 100m, Atieno’s brother David Wamira clocked 10:81.00 seconds to carry the day. He was followed by David Ogogo (11:16.00) from Kisumu County and Paul Esinyen from Nyang’oma who timed 11:35.00 seconds.
Kerubo came second
In the 200m women, Atieno clocked 26:05.00 seconds to win as Kerubo came second in 27:94.00, while Achieng’ was third in 29:44.00.
In the men’s category, Ogogo, who finished second in the 100m, outpaced Wamira after clocking 22:15.00. Wamira was second in 23:17.00, while Esinyen came third in 23:47.00. In 400m men, Ogogo won in 52:33.00, followed by Esinyen (54:25.00) and David Ochieng’ (54:90.00). Wamira came a distant fifth.
In the girls’ 400m, Atieno won in 1:03.00, followed by Kerubo (1:06:00) and Achieng’ (1:10.00).
last daak trials
In the 1,500m men, Jacob Kibet from Nyang’oma clocked 4:50.00 to win. Julius Kiptanui from Kericho County was second in 5:02.00, while Washington Okoth from Nyando clocked 5:55.00 for third place. In the women’s category Rebecca Matiko from Kisii won in 7:22.00, followed by Ann Otongo, also from Kisii, in 7:35.00.
This was the seventh and last DAAK regional Deaf Track and Field trials to select the provincial team to represent Nyanza Province at the National Deaf Athletics Championships to be used to pick the final squad to represent Kenya at the second World Deaf Athletics Championships in Toronto, Canada, between July 12 and 22.
DAAK has conducted the regional trials in Western, Rift Valley, Eastern, Central, Nairobi, Coast and their final event was in Nyanza. During the event, DAAK Public Relations Officer Tom Okiki appealed to well wishers to support the association to enable them send athletes to the World Deaf Athletics Championships in Canada.
The event was graced by DAAK chairman Jones Kirui, Nyanza Co-ordinator Daniel Omondi and Bernard Ochieng’ Mlama.
