Kenya’s 10,000m Commonwealth Games gold wait Continues as Diana Wanza settles for silver

Kenya’s quest to reclaim the women’s 10,000m Commonwealth Games title will stretch beyond another edition after Africa champion Diana Wanza settled for silver behind Australia’s Rose Davies in Glasgow, Scotland, on Monday, 27 July.

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Wanza, who won the African title in Ghana in May, looked poised to replicate that success on the Commonwealth stage after leading for much of the race. However, a late surge from Davies denied the Kenyan gold as the Australian crossed the finish line in 31:39.32.

Wanza followed in second place in 31:50.13, while Rwanda’s Florence Niyonkuru completed the podium in 31:55.47 to claim her country’s first-ever athletics medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Davies’ victory was also historic, marking Australia’s first Commonwealth Games gold in the women’s 10,000m.

Kenya had arrived in Glasgow hoping to reclaim a title it last won in 2014 through Joyce Chepkirui, also in Glasgow.

The race began cautiously for the Kenyan trio of Wanza, Miriam Chebet and Rebecca Mwangi, who opted for a conservative start as Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek and Joan Chebet dictated the early pace.

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By the 900m mark, Mwangi had moved into second while Wanza sat sixth.

The Ugandans continued to control proceedings through the opening stages, with Cheptoyek leading at the 2,000m mark ahead of Joan Chebet as Wanza gradually worked her way into third place.

With 8,000m remaining, the race swung Kenya’s way as Wanza surged to the front. She was joined by Chebet and Mwangi, giving Kenya the top three positions while Rwanda’s Niyonkuru and the Ugandans stayed within striking distance.

Cheptoyek briefly reclaimed the lead with 6,550m to go, forcing Wanza to momentarily drop off the front group before the African champion fought her way back into contention.

As the race entered its decisive stages, Wanza again asserted herself at the front.

With eight laps remaining, she dictated the pace ahead of Chebet, while Cheptoyek and Niyonkuru continued to shadow the leaders.

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Just over five laps from the finish, Wanza increased the tempo, opening a significant gap over the chasing pack.

Running with high knees and a composed stride, she looked increasingly comfortable as the distance between her and the rest of the field stretched to nearly 40 metres with three laps remaining.

However, Davies began to reel her in, steadily eating into the deficit before catching Wanza with two laps to go.

The Australian immediately pulled away, leaving Wanza unable to respond despite a determined effort over the closing stages.

Davies maintained her advantage through the bell lap to secure a memorable victory, while Wanza held on for silver and Niyonkuru claimed bronze.