Tickets sealed, hard work now begins for Team Kenya
The Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani on Saturday hosted the finest athletes in the nation who were united with one goal, making it to Team Kenya for the Commonwealth Games scheduled for April 4-15 in Gold Coast, Australia.
And as expected, surprises were sprung as many world junior champions athletes announced their arrival in the senior competition from the juniors upstaging the seasoned athletes to bag tickets to Australia.
World Junior 3,000m champion Celilphine Chespol showed pure class as she dominated the event in her senior competition debut ahead of to be teammates Purity Kirui and Fancy Cherono.
The 18-year-old said she is thrilled by the prospect of representing her country in Commonwealth Games.
” I am happy to have made it to the team, my main aim was to make the cut and now that I have realised that, it’s now upon us to train hard with my two colleagues when we join the camp,” Chespol disclosed.
In the corresponding men race, two slots were available owing to the wild card awarded to Olympic Champion Conselsus Kipruto, with Abraham Kibiwott and Amos Kirui finishing first and second respectively to join the World champion in the team.
Emily Cherotich, Olympic bronze medalist Margaret Nyairera and Eglay Nalianya will lead Kenya’s assault in the 800m women race as a new look men team is made by the trio of Jonathan Kitilit, Wycliffe Kinyamal and Cornelius Tuwei.
World under-20 10,000m champion will be spearheading the 10,000m team comprising of Jonathan Muia and Kipkoech Bett as they attempt to end Kenya’s jinx in the event.
Kwemoi said he hopes to make it to the podium even though it will be his first senior appearance.
“It feels good to make the cut, now I am focused on winning a medal”, said Kwemoi.
World Champions
As much as new blood enters the team, World champions also made a good account of themselves as they made the trip.
Apart from Conselsus Kipruto (3,000m SC) and Hellen Obiri (5,000m), former javelin World Champion Julius Yego who is also the defending champion in the competition will be defending the crown he won four years ago.
The 2015 400m world champion Nicholas Bett who led his brother Aron Koech to a top-two finish is another heavy-weight that bagged the ticket.
After the rigorous activity carried across two days a total of 65 athletes were chosen and will be under the stewardship of seven officials.
Full team
Women 20km walk
Grace Wanjiru
Linda Waweru
Men 20km Walk
Samuel Gathimba
Women 10,000m
Sandrafelis Chebet
Stacy Ndiwa
Beatrice Mutai
Women 400m Hurdles
Maureen Jelagat
Men 5000m
Edward Zakayo
Nicholas Kipkorir
David Bett
Women 5000m
Hellen Obiri
Margaret Chelimo
Eva Cherono
Men 1500m
Timothy Cheruiyot
Elijah Manangoi
Kumari Taki
Women 1500m
Beatrice Chepkoech
Winny Chebet
Mary Wangari
Men 200m
Peter Mwai
Mike Mokamba
Dan Asamba
Women 200m
Joan Cherono
Millicent Ndoro
Gladys Nthenya
Men 3000m steeplechase
Conseslus Kipruto
Abraham Kibiwott
Amos Kirui
Women 3000m steeplechase
Celliphine Chepteek Chespol
Purity Cherotich
Fancy Cherono
Men 800m
Jonathan Kitilit
Wycliffe Kimanyal
Cornelius Kipkoech
Women 800m
Emily Cherotich
Margaret Nyairera
Eglay Nalianya
Men 100m
Mark Otieno
Men 400m
Boniface Mweresa
Collins Omae
Alexander Sampao
Women 400m
Maxmilla Imali
Veronica Mutua
Men 10,000m
Rodgers Kwemoi
Jonathan Ndiku
Josephat Bett
Men 400m Hurdles
Nicholas Bett
Aaron Koech
Willy Mbevi
Men 110m hurdles
Kiprono Koskei
Men Javelin
Julius Yego
Alexander Kiprotich
Women Long Jump
Priscilla Tambunda
Men Long Jump
Bethwel Langat
Men Triple Jump
Elijah Kiplagat
Decathlon
Gilbert Kibiwott
High Jump
Mathew Sawe
Men marathon
Nicholas Kamakya
Kenneth Mburu
Julius Mungara
Women Marathon
Shelmith Muriuki
Sheila Jerotich
Hellen Nzembi
Team officials
Joseph Ochieng (Team manager)
Philip Ngovi (Assistant Team manager)
Mary Chege (Chaperone)
Japheth Kemei (head coach)
Julius Kirwa, Joseph Kirwa, William Murgor (Assistant coaches)
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