East Africa: Kipruto Eyes Podium Finish At World Youth Event in Lille, France

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Stanley Magut

15 June 2011

Eastern Africa youth 2000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto has set sights on World Youth Championships planned for next month in Lille, France.

Kipruto said he is targeting nothing less than the podium finish in his 2000m steeplechase speciality. “I have build up my form in readiness for the event. I am praying to God to give me strength and courage in order to tackle my rivals and emerge victorious,” Kipruto said.

He posted a sterling performance of 5:35 minutes to win the 2,000m steeplechase during the Eastern Africa Youth Championships in Eritrea last April. He improved his performance to 5:29.3 minutes at the national trials last week.

“There is an improvement in my performance whenever I run and I hope that I will post better results in Lille,” he added. The youthful icon in the water and barriers race now focuses on streamlining his tactics of outwitting the rivals in the race.

“At the residential training camp, I will be working on my tactics of winning now that I am in shape for the race. You know you can’t just run anyhow.

You must have strategies of winning,” he revealed. Kipruto, a fourth form student at Kosirai Secondary in Nandi, has been intensifying his training with his schoolmate David Chemjor who is also in the team to France.

Chemjor, who is a 400m and 200m Eastern Africa bronze medallist, will be running in the 400m at the World youth Championships in France. He has also set his sights on finishing within a medal bracket in his specialty.

“I floored some of the big names during the Athletics Kenya (AK)/National Bank of Kenya weekend meetings. In France, I hope to get a medal,” Chemjor said. World Youth Championships are scheduled for July 6-11 in Lille in France.

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