Chebet and Were Shine at BingwaFest in Siaya

Siaya, Kenya — September 26, 2025 (EAT).

Athletics fans were treated to stellar performances at the Nyanza region leg of BingwaFest, hosted at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Stadium, as Miriam Chebet secured a double victory and Wiseman Were stamped his authority in the sprints. 

The Highlights

• Miriam Chebet dominated the long-distance events, winning both the 10,000m and 5,000m races. She ran 32:47.03 in the 10,000m to edge out Daisila Jerono and Caren Chebet, and narrowly clinched the 5,000m in 15:54.06, just ahead of Jerono (by three hundredths of a second). 

• For her efforts, Chebet collected Ksh 550,000 in prize money—Ksh 300,000 for the 10,000m and Ksh 250,000 for the 5,000m. 

• In the men’s 10,000m, Titus Kiprotich took the top spot with 28:29.8, narrowly ahead of John Lomoni and Shadrack Kipngetich. 

• Wiseman Were made an impression in the 100m, posting a time of 9.9 seconds to win the sprint, beating Denise Mwai and Ronald Kiprono. 

Why It Matters

• Chebet’s double win cemented her status as a rising force in Kenya’s distance running ranks, giving her momentum heading into national competitions.

• Were’s performance in the 100m is significant: it underscores Kenya’s growing depth in sprinting—a domain historically dominated by East African middle- and long-distance excellence.

• The event highlighted the importance of regional athletics circuits like BingwaFest in developing local talent, giving athletes competition exposure and financial incentives outside national meets.

What’s Next

• The national finals of BingwaFest are expected later this season, where regional champions like Chebet and Were will compete for national honours.

• Performance tracking: will Chebet maintain her edge over her rivals, and can Were translate regional form to national or international success?

• Investment opportunities: strong results boost calls for better training facilities, coaching, and athlete support programs in Nyanza and other regions.