Clinton Owatinya Aluvi etched his name into the history books on Thursday evening, becoming the first Kenyan ever to win a gold medal in the men’s 100 metres at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) U20 Championships.
Storming down the track at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OMK) Stadium, Aluvi clocked 10.42 seconds to clinch the title, completing a flawless sprint campaign that saw him dominate every round—from heats to semis to the final.
The 19-year-old’s landmark victory is more than a personal triumph. It marks Kenya’s most definitive breakthrough yet in the short sprints—a territory long monopolized by West African giants such as Nigeria and Ghana.
Earlier in the competition, Aluvi had announced his arrival with a swift 10.37 seconds in Heat 1, comfortably beating Zimbabwe’s Methembe Tshuma (10.52) and Botswana’s Selepe Prince Phaezel (10.62). He then lowered his mark to 10.36 seconds in the semifinal, posting a second personal best in one day—proof of both form and composure under pressure.
“I feel excited and thank God, my coaches, and fellow Kenyans who believed in me and encouraged me that I could do it,” Aluvi said after his semifinal run. “I’m now focused on the final, aiming to lower my personal best again. Let’s meet on the track — and may the best win.”
And win, he did—with history on the line.
His achievement is a major milestone for Athletics Kenya (AK), which has been working steadily to build sprint and field talent through nationwide U20 development camps. According to Dominic Ondieki, a youth development official with AK who accompanied the team to Nigeria, Aluvi’s gold is the result of years of strategic investment and faith in emerging talent.
“It has taken a lot of time and preparation, and achieving two personal bests in the same championship means a great deal to us,” said Ondieki. “In partnership with the government, Athletics Kenya launched U20 training camps across the country to nurture young talent, and these athletes are the result of that effort. Clinton’s ambition is to prove to the world that Kenya is ready to compete for sprint titles. We’re also making progress in the field events. For the first time, we included boys’ and girls’ triple jump, which shows our growing readiness.”
Until recently, Kenya’s name barely registered in sprint finals. But with Ferdinand Omanyala now among the continent’s senior sprint elite, and Aluvi blazing through junior competition, Kenya’s short sprint revolution is no longer theoretical—it’s undeniably alive.
From a quiet outsider to a serious contender, Kenya is finally claiming its lane on the sprint map of Africa.
By Robert Kibet -Freelance journalist
