Kigen eyeing a better season next year
African Games 3,000m steeplechase champion Benjamin Kigen is eyeing a better season in 2020, to make amends for missed silverware in Doha, Qatar during the World Athletics Championships.
Kigen who failed to make a podium finish during the global outing last month says he is not discouraged by his performance but instead got motivated to prepare well for the coming season.
The 26-year-old who boasts a personal best of 8:05.12 posted in July during the Monaco Diamond League won Kenya gold in the just concluded 2019 Military World Games that ended last week in Wuhan, China.
In China, Kigen clocked 8:24.50 to beat Algeria’s Bilal Tabti (8:28.71) and Frenchman Yoann Kowal (8:29.72) in the final.
The national champion is hoping to improve in the coming season as he hopes to make it to team Kenya for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
“It was disappointing for me not to make it to the podium since I had come from a good season. A medal could have been the least achievement for me in Doha,” said Kigen coached by Isaac Rono.
He added: “I think i should have done better in most aspect of that final. I want to work hard for a yet another long season ahead, where my biggest target is an olympic medal.” During the military Games, Kenya managed five medals, two gold medals, two bronze and silver.
