Kenya made a triumphant start to the athletics programme at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on Monday night, after Edmund Serem led a clean sweep in 3,000 metres steeplechase, moments after Diana Wanza bagged silver in the women’s 10,000m.
Serem, 18, flew in the final-lap to win the men's steeplechase title in 8:18.23,. Simon Koech took silver in 8:18.59, while Leonard Bett completed the podium in 8:21.63.
The victory marked a dream Commonwealth Games debut for Serem who said he only realised gold was within reach when he found himself full of running with one lap remaining.
“I was confident I would make the podium, but I didn’t expect to win gold until the last lap when I realised I still had something left in the tank,” explained Serem.
“The field was very strong. We had world champion Geordie Beamish from New Zealand as well as Koech who had just run under eight minutes in the steeplechase,” not Serem.
The win announced Serem as one of Kenya’s brightest emerging talents on one of athletics’ biggest stages.
“I am happy to have won my very first Commonwealth title in my first appearance. It is such a huge achievement,” he observed.
“I know my family back home and the over 50 million Kenyans are happy. We also delivered a clean sweep for Kenya.”
Serem also disclosed the crucial role his father played in helping him prepare mentally for the race.
“I received over 20 calls from my father, even when I was in the call room before we took to the track, encouraging me and advising me on my barrier clearance,” he said.
“He also wrote me a very long motivational message.”
Earlier, Wanza continued her outstanding breakthrough season by winning silver in the women’s 10,000m.
Wanza clocked 31:50.13 to finish behind Rose Davies from New Zealand, who claimed gold in 31:39.32. Rwanda’s Florence Niyonkuru secured bronze in 31:55.47.
Fellow Kenyans Miriam Chebet and Rebecca Mwangi placed seventh and 10th, respectively, recording times of 32:12.97 and 32:36.12.
For Wanza, the medal was another landmark in what has already become the finest season of her career, having earlier captured the African 10,000m title in Accra.
“2026 is a blessing year for me. It is a year I will always remember as my breakthrough season,” said Wanza.
“From winning gold at the African Championships to now winning silver at the Commonwealth Games on my debut.”
The distance runner, who won the African crown on May 15 in Accra with a time of 31:33.26, said the support from Kenyans, her family and management had inspired her remarkable rise.
“I thank my Kenyan fans back home, my family and my management for their support.”
Kenya’s impressive athletics' opening day haul gives the team early momentum as the athletics competition gathers momentum, with the traditional middle and long-distance events expected to offer further medal opportunities in the coming days.
Kenya now have five medals. The first medal at the quadrennial event came from 20-year-old weighlifter Joshua Amunga on July 26. Amunga won bronze in men's 60 kilogrammes category with a lift of 115kg in snatch and 145kg in clean and jerk.
Kenya entered over 90 athletes drawn from cycling, athletics, judo, boxing, weightlifting, swimming, para cycling, basketball 3x3, bowling, wheelchair basketball and para athletics.
