Longisa, Chepngetich pick positives from Poland Indoor Championship setback
Budding Kenyan athletes Rosemary Longisa and Gladys Chepngetich are dwelling on the positive aspects gained from their maiden encounters at the World Indoor Championship in Poland.
The duo faced elimination early during the heats on the first day of the Indoor Games in Krakow, on Friday, March 20, 2026.
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Longisa was placed fifth in 2:03.48 in a stacked opening heat won by world record holder Keely Hodgkinson (2:00.32) of Britain, ahead of Valentina Rosamilia and Nina Vukovic.
Debut performances
On her part, Chepngetich also finished fifth in her heat in 2:02.23, with Norway’s Pernille Antonsen winning ahead of Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin and Spain’s Rocio Arroyo.
“It was my debut at the World Championships. Running against professional athletes is hard, but I tried my best,” Chepngetich said, as quoted by Athletics Kenya.
“The race was good but a bit tough. It was a good experience for me, and I felt good,” said Longisa, who nonetheless expressed pride in representing Kenya on the global stage.
On the positive side, Team Kenya enjoyed success in other races, with five athletes securing qualification to the semifinal.
Among the standout performances on the Day One event was that of Noah Kibet, who won the men’s 800m in heat 6 to qualify for the semi-final.
400 m national record holder Mercy Oketch and Brian Tinega also won their heats to keep the athletics glory in the Indoor Championship.
Tinega qualified for the 400 m semi-finals after finishing 2nd in Heat 5, behind Canada’s Christopher Morales-Williams, as Oketch recorded an impressive run of 51.57 s, earning her a second-place finish in Heat 6.
The indoor races running through Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, March 22, 2026, will see six athletes defend Kenya’s flag and rich athletic history in the championship.
Overall, the performances from the budding star attracted praise from different quarters, with Athletics Kenya official Barnabas Korir taking the lead.
“Day 1 of the World Indoor Championships 2026 has once again demonstrated the exceptional talent of Kenyan athletes on the global stage,” part of Korir’s congratulatory message read.
