Summary
– Coach Mwaniki optimistic about Kenya’s sprint team.
– 59 athletes selected for African Senior Championships in Douala.
– 12 sprinters among selected athletes.
– High expectations for formidable competitors.
Kenya National sprints coach Stephen Mwaniki expects positive results from sprint athletes selected for the African senior championships set to begin this Friday in Douala, Cameroon.
From the list of 59 athletes unveiled by Athletics Kenya (AK) for the championships, 12 are sprinters.
Mwaniki believes the federation has selected a list of formidable competitors who will conquer Douala.
“This is one of the best sprints teams we’ve assembled. Our expectations are high,” he stated.
He highlighted key athletes like Mercy Chebet and Veronica Mutua in the women’s 400m.
“There are some very strong sprinters in the list like Chebet who has been able to run 51 seconds and will be a hard nut to crack for the other competitors,” Mwaniki stated.
At the national championships, which also served as trials for the African Championships, Chebet clinched the 400m title in 51.81 seconds, followed by Gladys Jepkemboi (52.13) and Mutua (52.60).
Other notable athletes include three-time national 100m champion Esther Mbagari, national 100m hurdles record holder Rukia Nusra and men’s 100m national champion Meshack Babu.
Kelvin Tauta and Kelvin Kipkorir lead the men’s 400m team while national champion Mike Mokamba spearheads the 200m alongside Samuel Chege.
Mokamba is optimistic about his chances of a podium finish in the Cameroonian coastal town.
At the last edition, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo took the 200m crown in 20.26 seconds, with Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme (20.61) and South Africa’s Clarence Munyai (20.69) rounding out the podium.
Apart from dominating in the individual events, Mwaniki also has high hopes for the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams to qualify for the Olympics.
“For the first time in many years, we are sending athletes in the relay event to try and meet the target. We only have two slots up for grabs. We need to dislodge them from that seat,” Mwaniki added.
The top 16 teams qualify for the Olympics with 14 slots already secured during the World Relay Championships in Nassau, Bahamas.
In the 4x400m, Kenya currently holds the 20th spot with a time of 3:01.41. They aim to surpass Zambia’s 2:59.12 to secure a top-16 finish.
The men’s 4x100m is placed 22nd place with a time of 38.61. They need to beat Trinidad and Tobago’s 38.30 to qualify.
The 4x400m team will feature Boniface Mweresa, Zablon Ekwam, Brian Tinega and David Sanayek with the 4x100m team comprising Dan Kiviasi, Justin Isaboke, Meshack Babu and Mark Otieno.
Team Kenya
100m women
Esther Mbagari
Monica Safania
100m men
Meshack Babu
Mark Otieno
100m hurdles women
Rukia Nusra
200m women
Esther Mbagari
Eunice Kadogo
200m men
Mike Mokamba
Samuel Chege
400m women
Mercy Chebet
Veronica Mutua
400m men
Kelvin Tauta
Kelvin Kipkorir
400m hurdles women
Venice Kerubo
Rahab Wanjiru
400m hurdles men
Kipkorir Rotich
Edward Ngunjiri
800m women
Lilian Odira
Sarah Moraa
800m men
Kipngetich Ngeno
Nicholas Kiplagat
1500m women
Mary Ekiru
Caroline Nyaga
1500m men
Brian Komen
Boaz Kiprugut
5000m women
Mercy Chepkemoi
Teresiah Muthoni
5000m men
Levi Kibet
Stanley Waithaka
10000m women
Gladys Kwamboka
Emmy Jepkemoi
10000m men
Roncer Konga
Joseph Kiptum
3000m steeplechase women
Mercy Wanjiru
Leah Jeruto
3000m steeplechase men
Edmund Serem
Collins Kiprop
Mathew Kosgei
20km race walk women
Margaret Gati
20km race walk men
Heristone Wafula
High jump women
Zeddy Jesire
High Jump men
Asbel Kiprop
Long Jump men
Edwin Kimutai
Triple Jump men
Gilbert Pkemoi
Isaac Kirwa
Discuss women
Caroline Cherotich
Roseline Nyanchama
Javelin men
Julius Yego
Methuselah Kiprop
