Benins Yarigo ready for Kip Keino Classic test

Noelie Yarigo of Benin has warned Kenyan athletes she will bring her ‘a-game’ on Saturday when the Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour meet gets underway.

The 800m athlete has already arrived in the country alongside her compatriot Souliatou Saka who will double in 200m and 400m.

Yarigo is not a visitor in Kenya having had training stints in Eldoret and is wary of the uphill task that awaits her when she takes on the Kenyan contingent.

“I regard Kenya as my second home since I have been training here. I know Kenyan athletes very well and I am prepared to face them since I am equally strong,” she said.

The athlete spent the better part of Thursday at the refurbished Nyayo Stadium which will host the one-day meet on Saturday.

“The track is very nice, I have had a feel of it and I like it,” she observed.

The 34-year-old who has a personal best of 1:59.12 finished seventh at the 2019 African Games in Morocco and 11 at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Among the Kenyan athletes in the 800m field are the 2013 world champion Eunice Sum, Emily Tuei, Naomi Korir, and Naumglorious of Kenya.

Joining them are; Nelly Jepkosgei (Bahrain), Claudia Bobocea (Romania) and the Ethiopian duo of Meshesha Hirut and Alemu Habitam.

At the same time, Citizen Digital caught up with Great Britain’s sprinter Kristal Awuah (200m) who was also stepping up her final touches at the stadium ahead of the meet.

Fresh from competing at Doha Diamond League, Awuah who is a British national of Ghana’s origin was put through her paces by her manager Jennifer Thomas as they seek fast times on Saturday.

“This will be my last race of the season and I am really looking forward to closing this season with a bang. I think I am in good shape since I did not stop training even during Covid-19 pandemic,” said Awuah.