Javelin sensation Yego cant wait to flex muscles in Doha

Philip Muchiri in Doha, Qatar

Former World Javelin champion Julius Yego cannot wait to flex his muscles as he enters the qualifying round of this year’s World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar this evening.

The 2015 champion will be among the athletes in heat one his main aim being to qualify for the final which scheduled to begin at 1630hrs. The Beijing 2015 champion is however not aiming to stretch his mark at least not in the qualifiers.

“I am eager to get into the competition area, because I’m so excited; I pray that I get my technique right because in the qualifying round I am targeting the 83 mark to enable me qualify for the final,” Yego told Citizen Digital.

Also known as ‘Mr You Tube’, Yego, who is a Rio 2016 silver medallist, won the African Championship last year in Asaba, Nigeria, and is willing to make amends after a poor show in London 2017 where he finished at position 13.

“My focus first is to make the final, just like any other athletes here,” he added.

In August he threw 87.73m in Rabat, Morocco to win the All Africa Games title, five metres shy of his African record set in Beijing 2015 (92.72m) to win the world title.

And at 2055hrs the Khalifa International Stadium will be lit by the Kenyan duo of Faith Kipyegon and Winny Chebet, in the women’s 1,500m final.

Kipyegon who is returning from maternity leave, finished second behind semi final one winner Sifan Hassan while Chebet also took the second position in the second heat.

“The race was so difficult, and I pray to God that we are in good form to win a medal in the final, I made a similar mistake by boxing myself in the inner lane but that will change in the final,” Chebet said in an earlier interview.

Also in the hunt for medals are the Kenyan trio of Helen Obiri, Lilian Kasait and Margaret Chelimo. Obiri, the defending champion had a bad outing in  10,000m Worlds debut finishing fifth, but this time round she is optimistic of a good show.

“I can tell you I am feeling fine; my body is in perfect shape after a two days rest,” she explained.

To close day nine business will be the Kenyan quartet of marathoners led by the defending champion Geoffrey Kirui, in search of his second successive World’s title. Others are Paul Lonyangata, Laban Korir and Amos Kipruto.

“It is a hard marathon but we are going to stay strong and face it, we know it is very hot and humid but we are going to put all our energy in it; we have compared notes with our ladies counterparts and we have a strategy,” Kipruto said.

“This place is very hot and I am urging my colleagues to take advantage of teamwork so that we can retain this title,” Lonyangata said.

Today’s events

-1630hrs -javelin qualifying

2055hrs- 1,500 women final

2125hrs- 5,000 women final

2359hrs- Marathon men final

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Doha Qatar Javelin Julius Yego World Championships

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