NAIROBI, Kenya, March 26, 2025 – Athletics Kenya (AK) youth development committee chair Barnaba Korir has lauded Team Kenya for a valiant show at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China.
Korir says all the athletes fought bravely amid tough competition at the global event.
“We want to thank you all for giving your best at the World Indoor Championships. You represented us well and made the country proud with your great performance at the competition,” he said.
He was speaking on Tuesday while welcoming the 10-member team at AK’s Riadha House headquarters.
Echoing his sentiments, team manager Abdullahi Omar patted the team on the back for fighting tooth and nail at the two-day championships.
“The World Indoor Championships, traditionally, have not been our cup of tea. However, it was a commendable performance from each one of the athletes and we celebrate them for that,” Omar said.
Kenya fell short of a medal at the championships, with three of its athletes reaching the finals.
African Games 5000m bronze medalist Cornelius Kemboi and 2019 World Mountain Running champion Purity Gitonga finished eighth in the men and women’s 3000m.
Kemboi clocked a personal best (PB) of 7:49.00 as Gitonga timed 8:44.56 in their respective races.
Another Kenyan in the final, United States-based Susan Ejore, clocked 4:03.89 to finish fifth in the women’s 1500m.
Also present at the reception was team coach Vincent Mumo who expressed hope that Kenya will perform better in subsequent editions as they get used to training in indoor facilities.
“We went to China to win, but because this is a championship every country was there to win. So in a championship you either win or lose. Our performance was good, the athletes tried their best,” Mumo said.
Other members of the team included Africa 800m champion Alex Ng’eno, Africa 800m silver medalist Lilian Odira, the 2022 World Indoor 800m silver medalist Noah Kibet, Vivian Chebet, Dorcas Ewoi and Festus Lagat.
