Kiprotich dreaming of Worlds after impressing in Rabat

After winning silver at the just concluded African Games, javelin thrower Alexander Kiprotich is now yearning for more success ahead of this year’s World Championships trials slated for September 12-13 at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Kiprotich managed a throw of 77.50 in Rabat finishing second behind compatriot Julius Yego who won gold after throwing 87.73m.

It was Kiprotich best show in the Games as he improved on the fourth-place finish he attained at the 2015 Games held in Brazzavile, Congo where he hit 76.34m.

“I had prepared well for the Championships since last year and I knew I was going to improve from what I achieved at the last edition of the competition,” said Kiprotich.

The athlete who hails from Mt Elgon won gold at the 2013 African Junior championships before finishing seventh a year later at the African Championships.

He would later win bronze at the 2016 African Championships in Durban, South Africa before finishing fifth at the 2018 continental championships held in Asaba, Nigeria.

Although he has competed in both the 2014 and 2016 Commonwealth Games, Kiprotich is yet to make his long-awaited debut at the World Championships and the with less than a week remaining to the trials, he hopes to hit the qualifying mark of 83.00 to book a ticket to Doha.

“For me the most important thing is to keep focus and everything will be fine. I think I have had a busy season do far and with the trials now around the corner I will also give my best and see how it goes,” he added.

In Rabat, Kiprotich fell 1.34m short of setting a new Personal Best (PB) and has pointed out the big role the former World Javelin champion Julius Yego has played in his career.

“We have been training with Yego and he has been motivating me even while we were in Rabat and he pushed me until I almost set a new PB,” said Kiprotich.

The soldier has also been unlucky has he has had to battle with injuries along the way but he is getting back to his best.

“I have been struggling with an injury on middle finger on my right hand, which is the same hand I use for throwing but at least for now there is some improvement,” he added.

Olympic silver medalist Yego is the only Kenyan who has hit the qualification mark for the global event having thrown an impressive 84.16m at the National Championships held a fortnight ago.