• Wesley Sang also endured a tough race in the men’s 1,500m T46, finishing 12th in 4:07.92.
• Meanwhile, Sheila Wanyonyi faced stiff competition in the javelin T12 mi/T13 event, finishing ninth.
Image: SJAK
John Lokedi is set to regroup after a challenging outing in the men's 5,000m T13 at the Stade de France on Saturday.
Lokedi finished sixth in 16:10.06 in the race for visually impaired athletes.
Lokedi held his own with the front runners for much of the race but faded over the final three laps, unable to maintain his pace.
Spain's Yassine Ouhdadi broke away with two laps to go, securing gold in 15:50.64 and defending his title.
Neutral athletes Aleksandr Kostin and Anton Kuliatin took silver and bronze, respectively. Despite the setback, Lokedi found value in his first Paralympic experience in Paris.
"The race went well despite the result. It was a learning experience and I'll be returning to the drawing board," Lokedi said.
"I kept up with the leaders, but my finishing kick in the last 800m let me down."
Lokedi highlighted the need for extended training and improved facilities to compete at this elite level.
"In France, we trained on a quality tartan track, unlike the murram track in Kapsabet. Competing against such a high-calibre field exposed areas we need to improve," he added.
Looking ahead, Lokedi is determined to bounce back at the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai next March.
He also emphasised the importance of fielding more athletes in international competitions to bolster Kenya’s chances for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
"The more athletes we field, the higher our chances of winning medals," said Lokedi.
"I was the only one in the 5,000m T13, yet many young athletes could excel in this sport."
Wesley Sang also endured a tough race in the men’s 1,500m T46, finishing 12th in 4:07.92.
Neutral athlete Aleksandr Laremchuk took gold in 3:50.24, adding to his world title from Kobe.
Australia's Michael Roeger and France's Antoine Praud completed the podium.
"I lost balance after two laps and couldn’t inject pace. It wasn’t until after the race that I realised some spikes had come off my shoes," a disappointed Sang said.
Meanwhile, Sheila Wanyonyi faced stiff competition in the javelin T12/T13 event, finishing ninth.
China’s Yuping Zhao set a new world record with a throw of 47.06m to claim gold.
Despite not achieving her desired result, Wanyonyi remained positive about her Paralympic debut.
"I didn’t get the result I wanted, but I’m humbled to have competed at the Paralympics," Wanyonyi said.
"I see this as a lesson and a challenge to do better next time, with more self-belief."