Kenya: Nation’s Smiling Assassins

Jonathan Komen

3 July 2011

Lille, France — With two overall titles tucked into the national trophy cabinet, Kenya’s team arrives in Lille, France, on Monday for the IAAF World Youth Championships, breathing fire as they set out to defend the global title.

The 22-member squad and nine officials, which comprises athletes in primary and secondary schools, were simply beaming with confidence ahead of Tuesday afternoon’s opening ceremony of the bi-annual IAAF athletics showpiece in the Lille Metropolle Stadium.

All attention will be focused on the Kenyans, who bagged the previous competition in Bresanone, Italy, and the team needs to be at its best to counter opponents from world’s leading economies such as the USA, China and Brazil.

They should be ready to stop any aggression from four-time winners USA – Debreen, Hungary (2001), Sherbrook, Canada (2003) and Ostrava, Czech Republic (2005) and (2007) Marakech, Morocco.

Kenya will also be looking up for a third title, having won its inaugural championship in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in 1999.

The team will be seeking to retain the overall title they won at the previous championship in Brassanone, Italy, in 2009, where they won the bragging rights with 14 medals – six gold, seven silver and one bronze.

Rivalry with Ethiopia

The Kenya versus Ethiopia track rivalry is expected to get a renewed touch in the elementary IAAF competition, with each team coming up with some fresh athletes emerging from the production chains.

Some young athletes will also use the show to step out of their elder siblings’ shadows, while others will be seeking to stamp the dominance of their rural homes in middle distance races.

Lilian Chemweno, who hails from the steeplechase-rich Marakwet area, is targeting the water and barriers race silverware. She is sister to world cross-country runner Gladys Chemweno.

East Africa 400m silver medallist Agatha Jeruto, neighbour to Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo, is itching to fit into the Nandi area’s 800m fort.

Big dreams also linger as William Malel has Daniel Komen’s 3,000m all-time best mark 7:20.76 in his crosshairs.

Africa junior cross-country bigwigs Caroline Chepkoech and Zipporah Wanjiru are expected to blaze the trail on Wednesday night as they line up in the 3,000m final.

Chepkoech, a Standard Eight pupil at Kibori Primary School in Bomet and immediate younger sister of reigning world junior 3,000m champion Mercy Cherono, has her task cut out.

Thirst for title

The 17-year-old Chepkoech – who basks on a 9:04 best time in the race – must prove that her continental cross-country crown was no fluke as she confirms her quest to fill the big shoes of her elder sibling Cherono.

“I pray to God to guide me so that I break Mercy’s championship record (World Youth). I have now learnt that running is all about planning and I thank Mercy for inspiring me,” said Chepkoech, who won the 2011 Africa Juniors 5,000m title in Gaborone, Botswana.

The third born in a family of eight added: “Although I lost to Wanjiru in the nationals, I will not disappoint my parents who will sit behind the TV watching the race.”

Wanjiru, a Form Two Student at Mung’etho Secondary School in Nyahururu, however, wants to change her pecking order from bronze to gold as she leaps from the continental honours to the global stage.

“I need to use the Youth competition to improve from bronze to gold,” said the Africa Cross-country bronze medallist.

World Cross Country junior champion Faith Chepng’etich is among an armada of world beating athletes in the five days of riveting action in Lille. The 17-year-old Kenyan dynamo will be making her maiden track outing in the four-lap race.

And will Chepng’etich keep the Faith Kenyans have in her? With Nelly Chebet having set the pace for her, winning the 2009 edition and Sheilla Chepkurui running away with the championship record in Ostrava in 2005, she only needs a great shape.

But depending on her shows in France, she might just get inspiration to give it her best shot and win.

First round

Faith and Eastern Africa Youth 1,500m silver medallist Sheila Chepng’etich are expected to set fire on the Lille Metropolle Stadium tartan track in Wednesday’s first round.

Little-known Timothy Kitum and Eastern Africa Youth gold medallist Leonard Kosencha will battle it out in the 800m rounds, while East Africa Youth steeplechase winner Conselsus Kipruto and upstart Kiprotich Mutai will race in the 2,000m steeplechase heats on Wednesday evening.

David Chemjor, the Eastern Africa 400m silver medallist and upcoming runner Ken Kirui of Kaporuso Secondary School in Bomet, will face a litmus test on Wednesday night as to whether Kenya can produce fireworks in the sprints.

Eunice Mueni (200m), younger sister of former World Youth star Elizabeth Mueni, and Alphas Leken Kishoyian (400m) are other athletes to watch.

Head coach Gekonyo Kariuki said he trusts the youth team to retain the title. “More than ever before, this is the best team we have ever had in the youth and junior level.

“We have strong runners also in the sprints and the middle relay and we are taking the fight to USA, Jamaica and Russia,” Kariuki, the principal of Ngooru Secondary School in Tetu, told Monday Sport.

Kenya has only collected seven gold medals as the highest in the youth and junior level, with the highest medal tally being 15. But Kariuki expects to post better results this time.

“With 46 seconds in the 400m race for a youth, we are at par with top nations in the sprints. We want to get more gold medals, improve our standings and even break several youth records,” Kariuki added.

The team:

Boys: Mike Mokamba (200m), Alphas Kishoiyan, David Chemjor (400m), Timothy Kitum, Leonard Kosencha (800m), Edwin Katoi, Kiprotich Mutai (1,500m), Conseslus Kipruto, Gilbert Kirui (2,000m steeplechase), William Malel, Patrick Mutunga (3,000m) and Ken Kirui (400m Hurdles);

Girls: Eunice Mueni (200m), Nevian Michira (400m), Agatha Jeruto, Lydia Jepchirchir (800m), Sheila Chepngetich, Faith Chepngetich (1,500m), Norah Jeruto, Lilian Chepngeno (2,000m steeplechase), Zipporah Wanjiku, Caroline Chepkoech (3,000m); Officials: Enos Oyaya (head of delegation), Benjamin Njoga (team manager), Peter Nyambane (ass. team manager), Gekonyo Kariuki (head coach), Robert Ng’isirei and Paul Okwaro (assistants), Samuel Samoei (physio), Jackson Tuwei, Paul Mutwii (Athletics Kenya) and Rose Chepsiror (chaperone).

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