Samuel Gathimba and Emily Ngii won the 20km walk that took place in Nairobi (Moi International Sports Center - Kasarani) on the 18th of this month, on the occasion of the Kenyan days of selective athletics for the qualification for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
20km men
Eight athletes at the start
The most striking result was obtained by Samuel Gathimba (KEN) who won the race in 1:18:23.
On the occasion, Gathimba also significantly improved his personal best, which was 1:19:04, also obtained in Nairobi, on 17.2.2018.
We add that this performance is also the new national record of Kenya and the African one over distance.
Gathimba is not new to this kind of performances having already obtained the bronze at the Commonwealth Games on 6.4.2018 in Goald Coast (AUS) in 1:19:51.
His progression
| | Performance | Place | Date |
| 2021 | 1:18:23 | Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Nairobi (KEN) | 18 JUN 2021 |
| 2020 | 1:22:56 | Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi (KEN) | 03 OCT 2020 |
| 2019 | 1:22:48 | Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat (MAR) | 28 AUG 2019 |
| 2018 | 1:19:04 | Nairobi (KEN) | 17 FEB 2018 |
| 2017 | 1:22:52 | Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) | 13 AUG 2017 |
| 2016 | 1:19:24 | Durban (RSA) | 26 JUN 2016 |
| 2015 | 1:23:12 | Nairobi (KEN) | 01 AUG 2015 |
| 2014 | 1:23:59 | Nairobi (KEN) | 07 JUN 2014 |
Second place to Simon Wachira (KEN), with 1:22:07
Third place went to the young Dominic Ndigiti (KEN), in 1:24:32, personal best broken by 44 seconds (previous of 1:25:16 obtained in Nairobi, KEN in 22.6.2019). Ndigiti in 2017 won the medal bronze medal at the U18 World Championships.
20km women
Five athletes at the start
Victory for Emily Ngii (KEN) in 1:30:56 also at the new personal best. The previous of 1:33:56, was also established in Nairobi (KEN) on 6.6.2018.
Second place to Silvia Kemboi (KEN) in 1:34:07, a personal best beaten by 6 minutes and 6 seconds (previous of 1:40:13 also set in Nairobi, KEN on 21.6.2018).
Third place went to 42 years old Grace Wanjiru (KEN) in 1:35:00 who, however, is still the national record holder of Kenya (since 2018), with a mark of 1:30:40 also obtained in Nairobi (KEN ) in 6.6.2018.
At the end of the competitions, the Kenya Athletics Federation announced the 44 names (25 men and 19 men) selected for the Olympic Games, including those of the walkers who won the national titles: Samuel Gathimba and Emily Ngii, both in the 20km.
It remains to be seen (and we are not aware of it) whether the requirements required by World Athletics have been met, i.e. the measurement of the circuit by a member of the WA-AIMS Panel and the presence of at least 3 international Judges (Panel II-III) in the judging team.
What is certain is that, to date (the deadline expires at the end of the month), none of the Kenyans mentioned are included in the World Athletics list for the Olympic Games.
From the African continent at the moment they could be admitted in addition to Marc Mundell (RSA) in the 50km whose list has already closed:
- in the 20km men: Wayne Snyman (RSA) with the standard 1:20:17 and Lebogang Shange (RSA) in the World Ranking Odds (58th)
- in the women's 20km: Yehualeye Beletew (ETH) rotates in the World Ranking and is currently 47th