Kenya: Mumias Decider

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

William Njuguna

29 April 2011

Athletics Kenya will use the National Bank sponsored Mumias Athletics meeting to select the final team to represent the country at the 10th Africa junior championships in Botswana from May 12-15.

According to Athletics Kenya public relations officer Peter Angwenyi the selection will be based on regular and weekend meetings and those who took part in the Kenya secondary and primary schools national championships. Angwenyi expects a large turnout of athletes with the event drawing closer. “I expect a huge turnout of athletes for the event as we want to send a strong squad to the Africa championships and solidify our presence as the biggest name on the continent,” he added.

Angwenyi noted that the athletes selected will do the county proud in Botswana. “We have a large pool of athletes to choose from so we will have a large team to choose from and in turn we are confident it will do the country proud,” he said.

Elsewhere the National Bank of Kenya, the official sponsors of Athletics Kenya track and field weekend series will give out more than Sh300,000 as prize money to athletes during the two day championships which starts at Mumias sports complex tomorrow and ends on Saturday.

The organisers have lined up 34 track and field events where more than 1,500 athletes are expected to compete in. Cash prizes go down to fifth place in each event.

Uganda’s sprinters return to this National Bank of Kenya weekend meeting in Mumias, Doris Chesang who finished second in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase leads a field of 16 Ugandan runners to the event.

Also in the squad is Agnes Aneno who placed third in the 200m in the Kisii event. Uganda Amateur Athletics Federation secretary Beatrice Ayikoru said the participation in Kenya meetings would help them attain the qualifying marks for the world championships in Daegu, South Korea.

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