Returning Ngeno aiming for glory in Budapest

National 800m champion Kipngetich Ngeno cannot wait to wear the Kenyan colours once again during the World Athletics Championships that starts on August 19 in Budapest, Hungary.

Ngeno is making a return to Team Kenya for the first time since competing at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Ngeno clinched victory at the national championships before finishing second at the national trials two weeks later to seal his spot in the Kenyan team.

“I have been out for quite some time. I missed the Tokyo Olympics and last year’s Worlds in Oregon. I am of course happy to be back in the national team. It has not been easy in recent years,” Ngeno told Citizen Digital.

“I secured employment with the Prisons Service after which I had to work so hard to reduce weight and come back to my fitness levels. I am happy I am now fully fit.”

Despite failing to advance past the semis stage in Doha, Ngeno says he drew valuable lessons ahead of this year’s event.

“It was my first World Championship with the senior team. I learned a lot especially on how to control the race in the heats and semis. I am now experienced enough to handle pressure in such an event,” he said.

The 2018 world junior silver medallist believes Kenyans can sweep the podium in the two-lap race where he will team up with defending champion Emmanuel Korir, Olympic silver medallist Ferguson Rotich and the fast-rising Emmanuel Wanyonyi.

“I think it is a very strong team. We need to just manage ourselves in the heats and semis and if we all make it to the finals it will be very difficult to beat us,” said Ngeno who trains at the Kericho Athletics Camp.