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