Nyandarua has assembled a formidable squad of 60 athletes to represent the county at the Central Region Secondary Schools Athletics Championships set for this weekend in Thika, Kiambu County.

The team, selected after a highly competitive county-level meet in Nyahururu, is determined to uphold Nyandarua’s reputation as an athletics powerhouse despite lacking a standard track within its borders.

The competition is part of the Term One athletics and ball games.

The selected athletics team will camp at Magumu Secondary School in Kinangop from tomorrow before travelling to Thika on Friday.

In the boys’ 5000 metres, Joshua Nderitu of Hospital Hill won in 15:16, beating Joseph Ngigi of Githima Secondary (15:19) to second place, while Kaheho Secondary School’s Daniel Ndung’u was third in 16:27.

In the girls’ 5000 metres, Marieta Wanjiku of Karagoini Secondary was in a class of her own, easily winning in 18:13.

Serah Wairimu of Silbwet was second in 19:03, while third place went to Margaret Kibe of Kaheti in 19:49.

Ibrahim Kipruto of Irigithathi Secondary School won the boys’ 1500m in 4:04, ahead of teammate Kennedy Kinyanjui (4:10) and Joseph Mureithi of Kahuho Secondary, who clocked 4:21.

The girls’ 1500m race was won by Agnes Chepng’etich of Baari Secondary in 4:57, beating Zippora Wangui of Mutamayo Secondary and Serah Wangui of Silbwet, who finished second and third, respectively.

Rosemary Wanjiru of Mutamayo Secondary clocked 10:55 to win the girls’ 3000m.

Grace Kimani of Baari Secondary was second in 10:56, while Gathanji Secondary School’s Margaret Machira was third in 11:44.

The boys’ 3000m was won by Denis Karumba of Silbwet, followed by George Waweru of Githima, while Joseph Wachira of Kahuho finished third.

In the girls’ 800m, Leah Muthoni of Baari topped in 2:25, beating Nancy Muthoni, also of Baari (2:29), and Elizabeth Njeri of Githioro Secondary, who clocked 2:35.

Wilson Njoroge of Mihuti Secondary won the boys’ 800m in 2:03, ahead of Douglas Mumanyi of Githunguchu Secondary, who clocked 2:04, and John Macharia of Kaheho Secondary, who was timed at 2:06.