The seasoned athletes from Kericho County have vowed to light-up world athletics championships that are scheduled in the Athletics Kenya (AK) World athletics calendar of events for the 2021/2022 season.
Major international track and field events to watch out this year include the Diamond League to be held on 5 June in Rabat, Morocco, the 18th edition of the World Athletics Championships scheduled to be held in Eugene Oregon, United States from July 15 to 24 and Commonwealth Games to be held in Birmingham from 28 July to 8 August.
The star-studded team of athletics is hopeful of bringing back home medals as they train for major athletics games at Gariette Athletics Training camp in Kericho.
In an interview with KNA on Thursday, AK First Vice Chairman Kericho branch Gabriel Kiptanui expressed confidence that the athletes will post excellent results from their various track disciplines.
He added that six athletes from his camp training for international athletic trials had shown consistency and posted positive results during the South Rift Regional Track and Field Athletics Championships held in April at Kericho Green Stadium, Kericho.
“We have Africa Junior Women 2016 Cross Country champion Miriam Cherop who is leaving for South Africa on 1 June for the All Out Mile race to be held in Cape Town. She is also training for Commonwealth Games. Others training for the international trials for Commonwealth Games include silver medalist 2019 World U20 800m in Tampere, Finland Kipngetich Ngeno , winner in 2018 World Under-20 5,000m and 2019 World Cross- Country Champion Beatrice Chebet, IAAF World U18 Championship Caren Chebet and two time winner of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in 2010 and 2013 Emily Chebet.
The team is dedicated and consistent and I can say they posted encouraging personal best times during the April 16 South Rift Regional Track and Field Athletics Championships,” said Kiptanui.
Kiptanui who doubles up as an athletics coach and trains more than 20 athletes said the region has great potential for producing great runners with many having brought home medals after competing in the World Athletics Championships.
In an interview with 2019 800metres World U20 silver medalist in Tampere, Finland Kipngetich Ngeno said he was hopeful of posting excellent results during the national trials to be held on 24 June.
“With God and with the help of my coach Gabriel I know I will perform well in the national trials to be held in Nairobi and clinch a spot to compete in the Commonwealth games. I competed in the 2019 Africa Junior U20 Championships held in Doha, Qatar in October last year and I brought home a silver medal. My personal best time is 1:44, 57 and am training hard at lowering this,” added Ngeno.
Two-time winner of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in 2010 and 2013 Emily Chebet said she was sure of winning and was hopeful of bagging gold to qualify for the Commonwealth Games during the trials for World athletic championships to be held on 24 June at Kasarani, Nairobi.
“I won the Eldoret City marathon held last month in Uasin Gishu. My target this year is to win and I am positive I will qualify in the national trails to bring back home gold from the Commonwealth games,” said Chebet.
800m silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics Fergurson Rotich said he was optimistic of improving his position as he trains to win in the Diamond League to be held on 5 June in Rabat, Morocco and in the trials for World athletic championships for Commonwealth Games to be held on 24 June in Kasarani, Nairobi.
“To all my fans my preparations for the races are in top form and I will not let you down,” said Rotich.
By Sarah Njagi
