Kenya: Men’s Relay Team Leaves for U.S.

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

William Njuguna

27 April 2011

Kenya’s 4x400m men’s relay team leaves today for USA to compete at the Penny relays in Philadelphia on April 30. The team which has already qualified for the 2011 Daegu world athletics championships will comprise Geoffrey Ngeno, Julius Kirwa, Mark Muttai, Moses Kerich and Stephen Barasa.

Coach Stephen Mwaniki said they are looking for exposure in the race as they prepare for the world championships in Daegu. “We need exposure if we are to compete with the big nations in Korea. That’s the only way Kenya will be able to compete at the world championships,” Mwaniki added. The team clinched the gold medal at the Africa senior championships in Nairobi last year.

Elsewhere former world senior 12km cross country champion Joseph Ebuya will start favourite for the men’s 5,000m title during the second Athletics Kenya / National Bank meeting in Mumias from Friday.

Ebuya who took part in the 1,500m in the opening two meetings in Narok and Kisii, has decided to switch to his specialty as he focuses on the Daegu championships “It’s quite a busy season and the earlier we start, the better for all of us. I did 1,500m in the opening two meetings because I wanted to gain speed for the 5,000m. I think it is now time to switch to my event proper and focus,” he said.

Ebuya said the local meetings have been very competitive and those sitting on the fence waiting for the national trials are in for a rude shock.”These young guys are really competitive and winning against them is like winning a gold medal in a world event. They are taking these meetings very seriously with one eye glued on the world championships team,” he noted.

Ebuya is expected to face Justine Cheruiyot who won the event in Kisii, David Bett and Geoffrey Kirui who finished second and third respectively at the same meeting.

Meanwhile, Athletics Kenya (AK) Public relations officer Peter Angwenyi yesterday said world championship qualifying times will be key in Mumias. “Most of our runners are yet to attain the qualifying marks and they will be chasing these in Mumias. As you all know the national trials are just around the corner and it is only fair that the qualifying times are attained prior to the event,” said Angwenyi. He said only three runners plus the 4x400m relay team have attained the qualifying times for the Daegu event so far.

David Rudisha (men’s 800m), Vivian Cheruiyot (women’s 5,000), Vincent Kiplagat (110m) and the 4x400m relay team have attained the qualifying marks.

Angwenyi said they anticipate runners to qualify in the men’s 10,000m in Mumias.”Competition in the event has been improving with every event and we expect athletes to qualify this Friday,” he said.

The 10,000m qualifying mark is 27:40.00. Angwenyi said the event will be the first track event on Friday and they expect fireworks. He said the 5,000m race will be held on the same day and considering the calibre of runners in the event, he will not be surprised if they also attain the qualifying marks in the event.

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