Juniors float talent galore
Athletics Kenya Youth Committee is scheduled to meet at Riadha House this morning to name up to 80 athletes that will be deployed into specialised camps to prepare for the World Under-20 Championships planned for August 17 to 22 next year at Kasarani.
The naming of the potential team comes after the conclusion of a two-day pre-trials event that attracted over 500 juniors at the Nyayo National Stadium, and which Youth Committee director Barnaba Korir termed as hugely successful.
“We all agree that a difficult task awaits us after the mini trials at the weekend. We plan to pick a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 80 athletes from the pre-trials.
The two day event gave our coaches an idea of what need to be done and areas to be improved on.
Now we shall plan to have a specialised training for sprints and field events in December and April next year where the athletes will train with some of the country’s best coaches,” Korir said.
Huge potential
He said huge potential was showcased in field events like javelin and triple jump, disciplines he has vowed to give adequate attention on.
“We have agreed as a committee to mostly focus on the fields that we felt have high potential irregardless of us not performing well previously.
I think the trials gave us pretty good ideas just as expected,” he said.
In selected results, Africa under-18 2,000m steeplechase silver medallist Haron Kibet from Silibwet was full of esteem on his way to winning the boy’s 3,000m in an impressive time of 8:43.7 to all but book his place in the probable team.
James Mwanza from Southern was second in 8:52.8 with Ronald Kipng’etich from South Rift finishing third in third in 9:05.5.
Kibet says his ambition is to win gold for Kenya at the junior event.
“Just like my role model Ezekiel Kemboi, who has won the Olympics twice, I want to follow in his footsteps. I want emulate him,” he said.
Also impressive in the water and hurdles event was Amos Serem who was representing Chewoyet camp.
He won his heat in a time of 8:44.4 ahead of Emmanuel Kiprop who timed 8:46.4 while Kiplangat Rotich settled for third in the heat with the fifth fastest time of 8:59.9.
Also impressive and expected to be named in the provisional team is Africa 3000m junior bronze medallist Gideon Rono who won the 5000m race during the preliminary trials.
Rono a member of Torongo camp in Baringo timed 13:33.5 and was followed by Victor Kimtai who finished second in 13:46.8 with Levi Chelator placing third in 13:47.5.
The former Sinoin Secondary school student will be seeking to make the cut for the national team for the global event that was postponed by a year owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“My ambition is to earn a slot in the team and go on to represent my country. I know I have been training hard that is why my victory was not a surprise to me,” he said.
In the girl’s 3000m Judy Chepkoech was victorious in a time of 9:028 with Marion Cheruiyot timing 9:11.4 for second place with Winnie Kimtai settling for third place in 9:25.5.
AK opted to go for time therefore most of the event from the two days trials were held through several heats.
