Having helped the country to affirm its dominance in the women’s 10,000 metres at last month's Africa Athletics Championships, Diana Wanza now intends to broaden her focus to the Commonwealth Games.
Kenya has not won the women’s 10,000 metres gold medal at the Commonwealth Games since Joyce Chepkirui’s success at the 2014 Glasgow Games, when she was joined on the podium by Florence Kiplagat and Emily Chebet.
Wanza believes that 12 years is too long for a country that prides itself on distance running, especially given its recent dominance at the World Athletics Championships and Olympic Games.
However, before she can compete in the Commonwealth Games, Wanza must prevail in her event at the National Athletics Championships, which double as the Commonwealth Games trials and start on Thursday at the Nyayo National Stadium.
The Kenyatta University education graduate has to prevail in her event at the National Athletics Championships, which will also serve as the Commonwealth Games trials, starting today at the Nyayo National Stadium.
The Games return to Glasgow this year from July 23 to August 7, with Kenya set to be represented by 98 athletes in 12 disciplines.
“I know it won’t be easy, especially with only the winner getting an automatic place at the Games. The field is strong, and athletes with good tactics will prevail,” said Wanza, who dominated the race from start to finish to win the Africa title in 31:33.26.
She won the national trials for the continental championships in 32:12.00, and then claimed victory in the women’s 5,000 metres at the Kip Keino Classic, ahead of the Africa event.
“I haven’t really taken a break from training because of the nationals and the trials. I am in good shape and ready for the show,” said Wanza, acknowledging that winning the African title has inspired her to set her sights higher.
“It gives me the confidence and experience to take on the best in the sport. I know the race will be fast,” she explained, adding that she would study her opponents in the initial stages to see what to do next. “It’s not just about running; you need good thinking, strategy and execution too.”
Her opponents include Scottish athlete Eilish McColgan, who won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, forcing Kenyans Irene Cheptai and Sheila Chepkirui to settle for silver and bronze respectively.
Wanza is up against marathon runners, including the defending champion, Loice Chemnung, who recently finished second in the Boston Marathon in April, won the Barcelona Half Marathon in February, and took the bronze medal in the 10,000 metres at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Also in the mix are the African Games 10,000 m champion Janeth Chepng’etich, Diana Cherotich and others.
Wanza may have taken up athletics in primary school, but it was at Ngoleni High School, where she joined in 2017, that she discovered her potential in distance running, as the school supported athletics.
However, Wanza encountered difficulties when she joined Kenyatta University in 2018, as the institution did not fully support athletics.
“Unlike in high school, I had no coach at university. There was a time I tried to engage the management, but I was told to use my stopwatch for training as they had no coach,” said Wanza, who didn’t give up and continued to train on her own.
“I could join some camps in Ngong and Kericho during the break from January to April,” said Wanza, who won the 10,000m at the Africa University Games in Nairobi in 2022 before graduating in 2023.
However, her mother, Elizabeth Kanyole, was not happy about her decision to join a group of athletes in Ngong for training in 2024, believing that she could achieve more with her degree than running.
“She wanted me to look for a job, but I told her that athletics is my passion too and that I would consider other options if necessary,” said Wanza, who has a twin sister and two younger siblings. “My mum is now my biggest supporter in athletics. She was over the moon when I won the Africa title.”
Wanza’s ultimate dream is to go on to represent Kenya at the 2027 World Athletics Championships and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Meanwhile, it's a battle royale in the men's 10,000 metres, with Commonwealth Games 10,000 metres silver medallist Daniel Simiu going head-to-head with defending champion Silas Senchura, who is also the African 10,000 metres bronze medallist.
