Kenyan long-distance runner Diana Wanza shows her gold medal after winning the women's 10,000-meter race at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana, on May 15, 2026. (Photo: Seth/Xinhua)

ACCRA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan long-distance runner Diana Wanza put up a sterling performance to win the gold medal in the women's 10,000-meter race late Friday at the ongoing African Senior Athletics Championships in Ghana.

Coming up against 17 equally good athletes on the continent, Wanza won the gold medal with a time of 31 minutes and 33 seconds.

Even though it is her first time to represent Kenya, the gold medalist told Xinhua she was determined to be a winner and hence prepared very well for the championship.

"My secret is working hard. You have to train, so that you are bold enough to those different faces," said Wanza.

She expressed her gratitude to the people of Kenya for giving her the opportunity and further stated she was looking forward to the Commonwealth Games.

"I'm really grateful to them for giving me this opportunity to be here representing them. By the way, this is my first time being in the Kenyan team, so I'm really happy coming here and winning gold for my country," the long-distance runner added.

The 24th edition of the African Senior Athletics Championship, which began on Tuesday, is scheduled to conclude on Sunday.