Diana Wanza/ TEDDY MULEI Team Kenya will have the first opportunity to strike Commonwealth Games gold and lay down an early marker for what they hope will be a memorable campaign when the women's 10,000m, men's hammer throw and men's 3,000m steeplechase take centre stage tonight at the Scotstoun Stadium.
The women's 10,000m is scheduled for 10.05 pm (Kenyan time), men's hammer throw at 9.57 pm and the steeplechase at 10.50 pm.
Kenya's medal hopes in the women's 10,000m will rest on African Championships gold medallist Diana Wanza, 2025 national 5,000m champion Rebecca Mwangi and Miriam Chebet, as the trio bids to return the prestigious title to Kenyan hands.
Standing in their way, however, is a formidable challenge led by Uganda's world cross country silver medallist Joy Cheptoyek, who is expected to renew East Africa's fierce rivalry over the gruelling 25-lap contest.
Kenya will be determined to reclaim the women's 10,000m crown after falling just short at the previous Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022. On that occasion, Scotland's Eilish McColgan stormed to victory in 30:48.60, with Kenya settling for silver and bronze through Irene Cheptai (30:49.52) and Sheila Chepkirui (31:09.46).
Wanza has already made her intentions crystal clear, declaring that she is heading to Glasgow with only one prize in mind. "It would mean a lot for me to win gold at the Commonwealth Games because that is a big stage and I am going up against some top athletes," Wanza said.
Despite her confidence, the Kenyan distance ace acknowledges that standing atop the podium will demand patience, grit and flawless execution. "Getting that medal will not be easy, but I have to work for it, and I will bring it home," she said.
For Wanza, tactical discipline will be every bit as crucial as endurance and finishing speed. "My race will depend on the level of competition. I have to go in strategically with a good plan on how to execute my race."
Wanza heads into the showdown riding on the back of a sensational start to her 2026 campaign. Her season opener came on the roads at the Azpeitia International Half Marathon in Spain on March 21, where she produced a commanding victory in a course-record 1:07:31.
She maintained her impressive run on April 10 at the African Championships trials at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, clocking 32:12.1 to finish ahead of Mercy Mageso (32:27.2) and Phena Yego (32:47.4). The Kenyan star then dropped down to the 5,000m at the Kip Keino Classic, where she once again stamped her authority, winning in 15:28.91 ahead of Mercy Chepkemoi (15:49.85) and Dorcus Chepkwemoi (15:55.29).
On May 15, Wanza claimed her maiden continental title after producing a dominant display at the African Championships in Accra, Ghana, storming to gold in 31:33.26 ahead of Rwanda's Florence Niyonkuru (31:43.73) and Ethiopia's Asefu Abreha (31:45.91).
She carried that momentum into the Commonwealth Games trials, clocking 31:56.80 to finish second behind Loice Chemnung, who won in 31:46.90.
Meanwhile, Mwangi is equally determined to mount a serious bid for Commonwealth glory.
The national 5,000m champion put all other ambitions on hold this season, opting to sacrifice the African Championships to channel her entire focus towards Glasgow. "I skipped the African Championships so that I can focus on the Commonwealth Games. That is the big goal for me this year," Mwangi said. "At the Commonwealth, my target is a gold medal so that I can make Kenya proud," she added.
Meanwhile reigning hammer throw national champion Dominic Abunda will fly the Kenyan flag against an elite cast of global stars.
Abunda faces a stern test from the Olympic and World champion Ethan Katzberg of Canada.
The men's 3,000m final will see World U20 champion Edmund Serem teams up with Simon Koech and Leonard Bett hoping to maintain Kenya's stranglehold on the water and barrier event.
At the 2022 edition, Abraham Kibiwot stormed to gold in 8:11.15 leading Indian Avinash Sable (8:11.20) and compatriot Amos Serem (8:16.83).
