Kenya’s impressive campaign at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu has gathered further momentum, with the country’s medal tally rising to 15 after two more gold-medal performances in the half marathon.
Alice Chelangat and Peter Kariuki Wanjiri delivered Kenya’s latest successes on Sunday, August 30, extending a medal-winning campaign that has showcased the country’s strength across distance running, race walking and field events.
The two victories lifted Kenya’s tally to 11 gold medals, three silver and one bronze, according to reports from the championships.
The 2026 championships, which began on August 22 and run until September 3, have brought together more than 11,000 masters athletes from 106 countries in Daegu.
Chelangat dominates in the rain
Chelangat, competing in the women’s W45 category, produced a commanding performance despite rainy conditions to win the half marathon in 1:23:57.
The Kenyan crossed the finish line comfortably ahead of American Gia Canali, who took silver in 1:27:24, while Morocco’s Fatima Zohra Maissour claimed bronze.
For Chelangat, the victory was particularly significant because it was her first gold medal at the championships.
She said she had prepared thoroughly for the competition despite facing a strong field and expressed hope of continuing her campaign in the 1,500 metres.
Her victory once again highlighted Kenya’s enduring reputation in distance running, even among athletes competing in the masters categories.
Kariuki completes golden double
Peter Kariuki Wanjiri then completed a Kenyan golden double in the men’s half marathon.
The 44-year-old controlled the race from the opening stages, maintaining his pace throughout to win the men’s event in 1:06:43.
His victory added another endurance-running title to Kenya’s growing collection and ensured that both half-marathon races on the day ended with the Kenyan national anthem playing in Daegu.
The two victories were especially valuable because they came during the later stages of the championships, when athletes are increasingly looking for opportunities to add to their countries’ medal totals.
Kenya’s success in Daegu has been heavily driven by its traditional strength in endurance events, but the medal haul has extended well beyond the half marathon.
On Friday, Paul Kipkemoi won the men’s M40 5,000m in 14:32.27, finishing well ahead of Belgium’s Kevin Schauwaers, who clocked 15:07.93 for silver. Canada’s Martin Bailey took bronze in 15:22.08.
Francis Kipkoech Bowen also claimed gold in the M50 5,000m, clocking 15:27.79 to successfully defend his title. His victory reinforced his reputation as one of Kenya’s leading masters athletes. Bowen had previously been nominated for the World Masters Athletics Best Athlete award following an outstanding 2025 season.
The latest victories build on a strong opening week.
Eric Shikuku won the M50 10km race walk in 49:35, while Peter Wanjiru claimed the M40 10,000m title in 31:14.
Success beyond the track
Kenya’s medal campaign has not been limited to running events.
Betty Chebet Mwei gave the country one of its notable field-event victories by winning the W35 discus with a throw of 42.44 metres. She also secured gold in the W35 javelin with a mark of 41.51 metres, according to the current medal summary.
Sylvia Chesebe added another gold in the W35 800m, winning in 2:09.87, while Grace Kidake took silver in the W40 800m after running 2:18.75.
Florence Chepsoi and Rosaline David have also contributed gold medals in the women’s 5,000m events. Chepsoi won the W40 race in 18:19.37, while David claimed the W45 title in 18:57.20.
The results demonstrate the breadth of Kenya’s masters programme, with athletes succeeding in middle-distance races, long-distance events, race walking and field disciplines.
Silver and bronze add to the tally
Although Kenya’s campaign has been dominated by gold medals, the country’s silver and bronze performances have also played an important role in pushing the total to 15.
Grace Kidake’s W40 800m silver was joined by silver medals from Lewnida Agatha Opiyo in the women’s 5,000m and former Kenyan steeplechase star Paul Kipsiele Koech in the men’s M40 1,500m.
Caroline Kola contributed the country’s lone bronze so far, finishing third in the women’s W65 shot put.
The medal distribution 11 gold, three silver and one bronze underlines just how dominant Kenya’s gold-medal performances have been.
Masters athletics keeps Kenyan veterans competing
The achievements in Daegu also highlight the continued role of masters athletics in keeping experienced athletes involved in high-level competition.
World Masters Athletics organises competition for athletes aged 35 and above, with competitors divided into five-year age categories such as M35/W35, M40/W40 and M45/W45.
Athletics Kenya describes its Masters programme as a way for retired and veteran athletes to maintain their competitive involvement through national and international competitions.
The programme caters for athletes ranging from their late 30s to competitors in their 90s, providing opportunities for former elite athletes and recreational competitors to continue pursuing sporting goals.
That structure has allowed Kenyan athletes to continue displaying the country’s celebrated distance-running tradition well beyond their elite careers.
With the championships continuing until September 3, Kenya’s medal tally could still grow.
Attention is now turning to the remaining track and field events, where several Kenyan competitors are still in contention.
Paul Kipsiele Koech, for instance, remains one of the athletes to watch in the M40 middle-distance programme. He had earlier won his 1,500m heat in 4:15.89, indicating that another podium challenge was possible. James Sigei also advanced to the M60 1,500m final after finishing third in his heat.
The remaining programme provides Kenya with an opportunity to build on what has already been a remarkably productive championship.
For the athletes, the competition is about more than medals. It is also an affirmation that age does not have to mark the end of competitive ambition.
For Kenya, meanwhile, the performances in Daegu offer another reminder of the country’s extraordinary depth in athletics from young emerging stars to veteran competitors who continue to carry the national colours on the global stage.
With 15 medals already secured, including 11 gold, Kenya’s masters team has established itself as one of the standout stories of the 2026 World Masters Athletics Championships. And with several days of competition still remaining, the country’s medal haul may yet become even more impressive.
