Kipruto, Mweresa headline Kenyas team for Africa Championships
Olympic and World champion Conseslus Kipruto highlights the strong list of athletes picked by Athletic Kenya to represent Kenya at the CAA Africa Championships slated for August 1-5 in Asaba, Nigeria.
Kipruto will be making his debut in pursuit of the African title which is one of the few medals missing in his collection.
Apart from Olympic and World medals, he also has Commonwealth Games medal in his glittering collection.
“As an athlete you are always happy when you are injury free because you have a good time in training and competition. As I head to Nigeria I’m also eyeing a slot in Team Africa. The Africa and continental titles are the only medals missing. I know I started with the top medals but I’m now challenging for the others. It’s good to be unique; the most important thing is having all the medals,” he stressed in an interview with Citizen Digital shortly after confirming his ticket on Saturday afternoon.
“Running below 8:20 minutes at Kasarani is very promising. This means later in the season I shall attempt the steeplechase record in Monaco,” he added.
The Olympic steeplechase record holder was among the 61 athletes that made it to Team Kenya after crossing the finish line in 8 minutes, 18.05 seconds. He is joined by Commonwealth Games silver medalist Amos Kirui (8:18.37) and Kennedy Njiru (8:18.48) in securing the tickets to Nigeria where they will be aiming for nothing short of a podium sweep.
Their counterparts in the women’s race, Commonwealth Games medalist Beatrice Chepkoech(9:23.73), Cellphine Chepsol (9:28.36) and Fancy Cherono (9:37.62) will be trying to emulate the performance of their colleagues, who starred at April’s Commonwealth Games.
Samuel Chebolet ran away with the men’s 5,000m crown after cutting the tape in 13 minutes, 38.27seconds, ahead of World Championships finalist Cyrus Rutto (13:38.81) and Peter Ndegwa (13:49.35) who settled for silver and bronze respectively, to bag a ticket to represent the country at the biennial show piece.
Mweresa
Olympian and All-African Games silver medalist Boniface Mweresa stood the test of time alone after missing the starter’s queue during the 400m.
Mweresa failed to take off when the gun went off due to technical issues leaving the emotional Kenya Defence Forces soldier on the blocks as others went on with their race.
“I thought my dreams of representing the country were over. I could not hear the starter giving instructions. I just saw the rest sprint. My block had an issue but I’m glad that I managed to qualify.
“Going in to the race I had prepared myself mentally and I knew that I was racing against time though it had affected my composure,” said Mweresa who will double up also in the men’s 4X400m.
Team Kenya
Women
Hammer
Rose Rakamba
Javelin
Damacline Nyakeruri
110m
Priscila Tabunda
100m
Joan Cherono
Eunice Kadogo
200m
Eunice Kadogo
Millicent Ndoro
400m
Maximila Imali
Veronica Mutua
Nevian Michira
Hellen Syombua
400m hurdles
Maureen Jelagat
Jane Chege
800m
Emily Cherotich
Eunice Sumu
Margaret Nyairera
1500m
Winny Chebet
Mary Kuria
Judith Kiyeng
3000m steeplechase
Beatrice Chepkoech
Celliphine Chespol
Fancy Cherono
5000m
Hellen Obiri
Lilian Kasait
Loice Chemning
10000m
Pauline Korikwiang
Stacy Ndiwa
Alice Aprot
20km walk
Grace Wanjiru
Emily Ngii
Men
Hammer
Dominic Abuda
Javelin
Julius Yego
Alex kiprotich
Decathlon
Gilbert Koech
High Jump
Mathew Sawe
Long Jump
Bethwel Lagat
Isaac Kirwa
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