Kenya won two athletics gold medals in the space of 21 minutes on the opening evening of track action at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Sunday 8 November, as Abigael Kosgei and Enock Tuitoek both finished first at the Complexe Iba Mar Diop in Dakar, Senegal.

Kosgei, 16, struck first in the girls' 2000m steeplechase, winning in a personal best of 6:30.24. She beat Ethiopia's Tsedikan Mekonen, who finished second in 6:32.15, by almost two seconds, while Turkey's Elif Celik took bronze in 6:36.99.

The schoolgirl from Chagaik Senior School in Kericho County, coached by Peter Rono Kipng'eno, had to recover from a stumble at the water barrier on the third lap before regaining the lead and pulling clear in the closing stages.

"I am so happy for this win; the race was tough because of the weather since it is very hot here [in Dakar] but I was determined to get this medal and I dedicate it to myself and to all Kenyans," Kosgei said after the race.

Moments later, Tuitoek, 17, delivered the second gold in the boys' 3000m, holding off a close finish to win in 8:07.69. Ethiopia's Goytom Mekonen took silver in 8:08.24, just over half a second behind, with France's Meziane Benhammou third in 8:11.59 and Eritrea's Samuel Niguse fourth in 8:14.89.

Tuitoek set an early pace that strung out the field, then changed tactics to manage the leading pack before kicking in the final metres. The win followed his 3000m victory at the ANOCA Zone V Youth Games in Nairobi last August, a result he said had convinced him that gold in Dakar was possible.

"Now I hope to train hard and my focus will be getting a ticket to represent Kenya at the LA 2028 Olympics," Tuitoek said.

The two victories lift Kenya to three gold medals at Dakar 2026 and fifth place on the medal table. They add to the Rising Lionesses' rugby sevens gold, won after a 17-12 comeback victory over Australia in the final. Before these Games, all 15 of Kenya's Youth Olympic medals had come in athletics.

Kosgei's race was notable for its depth as well as its speed: the top five finishers all recorded personal bests, including Uganda's Racheal Chelimo, who was fifth in 6:49.56. The two finals were run 21 minutes apart on the first evening of the athletics programme, with the steeplechase at 18:20 East Africa Time and the 3000m at 18:41.

Athletics continues on Monday at the same venue, with the boys' 2000m steeplechase final, the girls' 3000m final and the boys' 800m semi-finals, in which David Sekento races for Kenya.