Githae bags first medal for Kenya in Commonwealth Games

Michael Mugo Githae has won Kenya's first medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games after getting a bronze in the men’s marathon event in Birmingham, England.

Githae who won the Fukuoka International Open Marathon clocked 2:13.16 to his first medal in the Commonwealth games .

Ugandan Vincent Kiplangat who is also the African champion won gold in 2.10.55 with Tanzanian Alphonse Simbu winning Silver by clocking 2:12:29.

This is also Uganda’s first medal at the on-going games that also make Kiplagat the first Ugandan to win the Commonwealth Games gold in the marathon.

Liam Adama from Australia led the race from very early finishing the first 5km in 15 minutes and 42 seconds as the pack of Githae, Simbu, Kiplangat and Athumani Misai respectively followed.

The Australian still led by a second through 10km in 31:06 and was infront 4 ssecond at 15km in 46:03.

Githae and his fellow Kenyan Jonathan Korir had stayed with the leading pack of six until the 30km when Kiplangat and Simbu dropped them.

The top three athletes (medal bracket) are all East Africans.

Kenya did not get any medal at the 2018 Gold Coast Games together with the recently concluded World Athletics Championships in the USA.

In Eugene, two-time New York Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor finished fifth.

Commonwealth Games 2022 (Marathon):

Winner (Gold): Victor Kiplangat (Uganda) – 2:10:55

Second (Silver): Alfred Simbu (Tanzania) – 2:12:29

Third (Bronze): Michael Githae (Kenya) – 2:13:16

Fourth: Adams L (Australia) – 2:13:23