Kenya’s Denis Kemboi delivered a tactically flawless and spirited run to clinch gold in the men’s 5000m U20 race at the 2025 CAA Athletics Championships held at the OMK Stadium in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
His winning time of 13:22.81 not only secured him the top podium spot but also denied Uganda’s Samuel Cherop a chance to defend his title — igniting the East African distance rivalry in spectacular fashion.
The much-anticipated final was set against the backdrop of regional bragging rights, with Uganda coming in as the defending force and Kenya keen to reassert its historical dominance in long-distance running.
Cherop, the reigning U20 5000m champion and fresh off a convincing win in the 10,000m on the first day, led Uganda’s charge with confidence and experience. In the opening laps, he controlled the race alongside a fellow Ugandan, setting a punishing early pace that seemed designed to burn off the field.
But Kenya had a plan of its own.Kemboi kept close on their heels, refusing to let the Ugandan duo dictate the terms. As the race moved into its third minute, the front pack solidified into a Uganda-Kenya-Uganda triangle, with Ethiopians and Moroccans also jostling for space in a tight chase group.
They passed the 200m bend in 3:15, with the pack thickening and tactics taking center stage.
By the fifth minute, cracks appeared in Uganda’s grip. One of their athletes faded to seventh, and Uganda’s Samwel Cherop — gold medalist in the 10,000m — moved into the mix.
Now a tight 11-man lead group battled through each lap, exchanging surges and elbows in a race full of jostling, grit, and tactical positioning.
It was at the nine-minute mark that the Kenyan surge came. Edward Elkanah and Denis Kemboi hit the front, triggering a final-lap frenzy. The Moroccan runner tried to disrupt the rhythm, while Uganda’s Samuel Cherop, determined to defend his crown clung on with all he had.
But Kemboi, calm and efficient, unleashed a perfectly timed kick in the final 300m, pulling away and silencing the Ugandan camp.
Cherop settled for silver, unable to replicate the dominance he showed two years ago. For Kenya, it was more than just a medal; it was a message.
Denis Kemboi’s win, coupled with Edwin Elkanah ‘s earlier 10,000m silver medal, points to a renewed hunger and promise among Kenya’s junior distance athletes.
With Uganda having made significant strides in senior-level long-distance running in recent years, courtesy of names like Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo, Kenya’s junior resurgence couldn’t come at a better time.
The performances in Abeokuta suggest that Kenya is quietly building a new generation ready to reclaim the throne.
If nurtured well, Denis Kemboi and his peers could soon be leading Kenya’s senior charge on the global stage — and reigniting the East African rivalry with renewed fire.
By Robert Kibet -Freelance journalist
