Chris Musumba
28 July 2011
The quest for a ticket to the All Africa Games got murkier at the Paralympics trials at Nyayo National Stadium as athletes took turns to compete in the same discipline owing to lack of wheelchairs.
Though the competition is not a time trial event, organisers Kenya National Paralympics Committee had no choice but to use any available means to select representatives in an event that is fully sponsored by the government through the sports ministry.
Such is the bias in the government that it could spend Sh40 million to source for equipment for able-bodied athletes during the Africa Athletics Championship, which is gathering rust at the stores, and could only afford three wheel chairs worth Sh1.2 million for the disabled athletes.
But this could not stop Samuel Mwangi Kuria from triumphing in the 1,500 metres race of the T37 Class, an event reserved for track and field athletes with cerebral palsy. Kuria clocked three minutes 47.8 seconds ahead of Caleb Odiyo (3:48.0) and Moses Odhiambo (5:38.5).
Cheruiyot qualifies
2008 Paralympics champion Abraham Cheruiyot Tarbei, competing in category T46, qualified for the trip to Maputo when he clocked 1:57.4 in the men’s 800m. At the Beijing Olympics, Tarbei won double gold in men’s 1,500m and 5,000m.
He displayed the same skills of front running to beat Stanley Cheruiyot (1:59.0), while Stephen Wambua was third in 2:01.7. All the three qualified.
Josiah Kipchirchir, competing in the T37 event, secured himself a ticket to Maputo when he won men’s 800m race in 2:14.1 ahead of Sammy Kibet (2:29.0) and James Kamau (2:31.3).
In the women’s event, Anne Ng’endo qualified for the games when she completed the 100m dash of the T12 category meant for visually impaired track and field athletes in 13.8 seconds ahead of Nelly Nasimiyu (14.7) and Emma Cheptanui whi timed 16.3.
In the T11 class for visually impaired track and field athletes, Priscah Chepkwemoi of North Rift won in 14.9 seconds, beating Nelly Chelimo (15.6 seconds) and Nancy Chelegat (16.0).
Caroline Kariuki, an official at the games, said up to 24 slots are up for grabs for track and field ategory. The team will be accompanied by six officials in both athletics and swimming. Selection of swimmers took place at the Nyayo National Stadium swimming pool. The trials, which attracted more than 200 physically challenged athletes, conclude Friday.
AllAfrica – All the Time