Kenya extends dominance at World Masters Athletics Champs in Daegu

Kenya extended its dominance at the 2026 World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, following a golden streak across both morning and afternoon events on Wednesday.

At Suseong Family Park, Francis Kipkoech Bowen stamped his authority on the men’s 8km cross-country race, leading the charge as Kenya secured three gold medals and one silver under a scorching early morning sun.

Competing in the M50 category, Bowen delivered a masterclass performance to cross the line first in 26:52, well clear of Spain’s Víctor Ramón Peña Martinez, who took second in 27:12, and Great Britain’s Brian Wilder, who claimed bronze in 27:21.

The Kenyan women mirrored this cross-country success with dominant runs of their own. Florence Jepkosgei Chepsoi captured gold in the W40 category with a commanding time of 29:00, finishing ahead of Great Britain’s Rebecca Luxton and the USA’s April Lund.

In the W45 division, Rosaline David surged to another Kenyan gold in 29:54, clear of France’s Laetitia Bonnehorgue and Italy’s Giuseppina Piccaluga, while Joyce Kirui added a silver in the W50 division with a time of 31:08 behind Belgium’s Sandrine Host.

In the 6km cross-country event, Julius Bilat added a solid fourth-place finish in the M70 category.

Field events over at Daegu Stadium brought even more success as Regina Malai Mulatya pushed Kenya’s overall medal tally to 23 by securing bronze in the W45 long jump with an impressive leap of 5.15m, finishing just behind Switzerland's Laura Torino Imberti and Great Britain's Melissa Foster.

Action on the track delivered high drama and more hardware for the squad. Sylivia Chesebe earned a hard-fought bronze medal in the W35 400m behind Spain’s Stephanie Saavedra Araya and Great Britain’s Ilana Grandine, while Elizabeth Muthuka put in a strong run to finish fourth in the W50 division.

The highlight of the track session came in the W40 400m, where Grace Kidake was elevated to the gold medal position after the initial winner, Noélie Ditchakou Yarigo of Benin, was disqualified for a lane infringement, pushing France's Joanna Derbier and Great Britain’s Alison Von Moger up to silver and bronze.

With momentum fully on their side, the Athletics Kenya Masters team now turns its attention to the final stretch of competition.

Elijah Chesoen will chase his second medal of the championships as he takes to the track for the M35 110m hurdles, while two Kenyan 4x400m relay teams prepare to compete before the curtains close on this 26th edition of the global games.