Kenya: Students Picked for World Games

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Stanley Magut

14 July 2011

KENYA Universities’ Athletics Council (KUAC) has selected a team of 32 students to represent the country at the World University Games from August 12-24 Shenzhen, China.The squad that comprises of 22 men and 10 women will battle it out in track and field events. United States-based Kenyan Anderson Mureta, Simon Komen, Fred Samoei and Linda Osaso are among the athletes in the squad who have so far attained the qualifying marks.

According to the KUAC chairman Frank Mbuthia, the athletes will training under various coaches at their respective institutions to ensure all is well ahead of the global event in China “Most of them posted impressive times during trials in Eldoret last month and we have considered them for slots in the team. We are going to ensure they prepare well and represent us in China,” said Mbuthia.

However, the council will field the squad today at the national athletic cum trials at Nyayo Stadium in a bid to gauge their performance against the country’s top cream runners.”We might use the national trails to trim the team depending on the performance of the athletes. We want to build their form and those who will; not take the trials serious should count themselves out,” Mbuthia warned.

Leornard Muchira of Kenyatta University (KU), Tomothy Kibet (Chepkoilel) and Gabriel Kogo (Kabarak) will represent the team in men’s 10,000m while the women’s team in the same category will comprise Florence Kimaiyo (KU) and Diana Yator (Moi University).

In the men’s 5,000mn, Joseph Kariuki (KU), Amos Ateeti (Kenya Polytechnic), Robert Changwony (Chepkoilel) and Abraham Rotich (Egerton) will flu the KUAC flag while Florence kimaiyo (KU), Lorna Chepkwony (Kisii), Pascalin Komen (Egerton) and Naomi Morogo of Chepkoilel will be the representatives in the women’s category.

Jackline Wanjiri of Kenya polytechnic is the only lady in the 800m while Robert Langat (Egerton), Darius Kemboi (Chepkoilel), Charles Kiptoo( Moi) and Fred Samoei (Diaspora) will battle it out in the men’s category.

Other athletes are-Women: 100m: 1.Caroline Njowi (KU), 2.Caroline Njeri (Narok); 100mH: 1.Joyce Chepkemoi (Egerton), Hammer: Linda Osaso (Diaspora); Men: 100m: 1.Oscar Odhiambo (Bondo), 2.Daniel Obiro (KU), 3.Wilys Odede (KU); 400M: 1. Joseph Mahegere (KU), 2.Emmanuel Ngetich (Egerton), 3.Dennis Kiprop (Kabarak), Anderson Mureta (Texas); 200m: 1. Anthony Kibet (Kabarak), 2.James Getengah (Moi), 3.Wilys Odede (KU) 4.Simon Komen (Diaspora).

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