Okong'o, Komen bag gold as African Games hit climax in Ghana

Kenya’s Brian Komen Friday night pulled a superb kick in the homestretch to win men's 1,500m at the ongoing African Games in Accra, Ghana.

Komen won the race in 3:39:19 as Ethiopia's Shire Ermias finished second in 3:39.40. The bronze medal went to another Kenyan Abel Kipsang who posted 3:39.45 time.

In the women’s 1,500m final, Kenya missed gold and silver as Mary Ekiru finished third to settle for bronze, clocking 4:06.22. The race was dominated by Ethiopians as Mero Hirut Meshesha (4:05:71) and Kumsa Hawi Abera (4:06:09) finished first and second in that order.

Apart from Ekiru, Kenya also clinched another bronze via Nancy Jepleting who clocked 1:15:07 in the women’s half marathon. South Sudan’s Atalena Loliha won gold, (1:14:36) as Ethiopia’s Zewditu Aderaw settled silver in 1:14:40.

At the same time, Edwin Okong'o won the eighth gold medal for Kenya in the boxing arena, defeating Algerian Yassin Elouarz in middleweight 75kgs category final.

Onkon'go becomes the first Kenyan to win an Africa Games boxing gold medal since Suleiman Bilali in 2007.

Okong’o was the first East African boxer to land in the African Games boxing finals in the current edition with a unanimous point’s victory over Algerian rookie Ghazli Ahmed.

The competition entered its final lap Saturday morning where Kenya’s hope of winning more medals will be in the hands of Wafalme Stars.

The national men's volleyball team is set to play the north African giants Egypt in Borteyman Multi-purpose in Accra at 3:00pm EAT.

The ladies, Malkia Strikers, who Thursday fell to Egypt in the semifinal, will follow suit against hosts Ghana in the third winner decider from 5:00pm aiming a bronze. Ghana lost 3-0 against Tunisia in another semifinal on Thursday.

Kenya is currently ranked 10th on the medal standing with 53 meals, eight gold, seven silver and 20 bronze.

At the writing of this account, Egypt was still topping the charts with 187 medals, 99-gold, 46 silver and 42 bronze.