{"id":452912,"date":"2011-07-04T08:55:01","date_gmt":"2011-07-04T08:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/07\/04\/kenya-team-off-to-defend-title-in-lille\/"},"modified":"2011-07-04T08:55:01","modified_gmt":"2011-07-04T08:55:01","slug":"kenya-team-off-to-defend-title-in-lille","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/07\/04\/kenya-team-off-to-defend-title-in-lille\/","title":{"rendered":"Kenya: Team Off to Defend Title in Lille"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

Jonathan Komen<\/p>\n

3 July 2011<\/p>\n

\n

Nairobi \u2014 Kenya’s team leaves tonight for the seventh IAAF World Youth Championships that start in Lille, France, on Wednesday.On Saturday, the youngsters were beaming with confidence ahead of Tuesday afternoon’s opening ceremony at the Lille Metropolle Stadium.<\/p>\n

World Cross Country Championships junior champion Faith Chepng’etich and bronze medalist Patrick Mutunga headline the 22-member team heading to the bi-annual championships.<\/p>\n

Chepng’etich, who bagged the global cross-country title in Punta Umbria, Spain, last March, eyes the 1,500m title as she makes her maiden global track outing.The Standard Eight pupil at Keringet Township in Kuresoi said she wants to improve on her father Samuel Koech’s shows on the track.”My father was a good 800m and 1,500m runner and, unfortunately, he did board a plane.<\/p>\n

“He could only win his races up to nationals and return home as there were no big competitions like we have these days,” Chepng’etich, who finished fourth at last year’s world cross in Poland, said. “With my cross-country experience, I am ready to battle anyone.”She will be up against Eastern Africa Youth 1,500m silver medalist Sheila Chepng’etich, who beat her at the triangular-cum-national trials at the Nyayo National Stadium last month. She will start her quest in the heats on Wednesday at 11.50am Kenyan time.<\/p>\n

The two will strive to hold Kenya’s firm grip on the race, in which her neighbour, Sheila Chepkurui of Kericho, won the global title in Ostrava in 2005 before Nelly Chebet strolled to victory in Bresanone, Italy, in 2009. Chepng’etich and Chepkurui are products of athletics-rich Kiptere village in Kericho.<\/p>\n

Patrick Mutunga, third placed in Spain and banking on a 7:51.03 personal best time, is expected to blaze the trail in 3,000m heats on Thursday with new talent, William Malel, a neighbour of world junior 3,000m title holder Mercy Cherono. Mutunga, who completed Standard Eight at Kyelen Primary School in Machakos in 2009, wants to emulate his role models among them former world junior 3,000m steeplechase champion Jonathan Muiya Ndiku and former world cross country junior champion, Caleb Mwangangi.<\/p>\n

Kenya’s quest to increase medal haul will present teams in the sprints, with Eastern Africa Youth silver medalist David Chemjor and 2010 East Africa 100m and 200m champion Alice Mueni lighting up the Kenyan colours.<\/p>\n

Mueni, a younger sister of former World Youth 3,000m starlet Elizabeth Mueni and a Form Two student at Nairobi’s Riruta Central, is the Kenyan girl in the 200m line up.”Kenya is equally good in the sprints as in the middle and long distance running,” said the 17-year-old Mueni, who hails from Kavuva village in Kitui.<\/p>\n

Olympic Youth 400m bronze medalist Isaac Kishoyian will lead the boy’s sprint charges, lining up in 400m. The 17-year-old Kishoyian, at youth level, has an expanded trophy cabinet basking on Africa Youth Games and Africa Juniors 400m silver medals.<\/p>\n

With his huge competitive spirit, Kishoyian has lofty dreams in the one-lap race. “I ran 46.45 in Botswana (Africa Juniors) and now target 45.00 in Lille, France,” said Kishoyian.<\/p>\n

And head coach Gekonyo Kariuki will certainly stand near the track hungry for his glory in Lille.<\/p>\n

“With 46 seconds in 400m for a youth, we are at par with nations topping the sprints. We want to get more gold medals, improve our standings and even break several youth records,” said Kariuki, the Ngooru Secondary School principal.<\/p>\n

Team – William Malel, Patrick Mutunga (3,000m), Conselus Kipruto, Gilbert Kirui (2,000m SC), Edwin Katoi, Kiprotich Mutai 3:40.1, Timothy Kitur, Leonard Kosencha (800m), Elphas Kishoyian, David Chemjor (400m), Ken Kirui (400m hurdles), Mike Mokamba, (200m). Girls – Zipporah Wanjiru, Caroline Chepkoech (3,000m), Norah Jeruto, Lillian Chepngeno (2,000m SC), Sheila Chepngetich, Faith Chepngetich (1,500m), Agatha Jeruto, Lydia Jepchirchir (800m), Nevian Michira (400m), Eunice Mueni (200m).<\/p>\n

Officials -Enos Oyaya (Chief de Mission), Benjamin Njoga (team manager), Peter Nyambane (assistant team manager) Gekonyo Kariuki (head coach), Robert Ng’isirei and Paul Okwaro (assistants), Samuel Samoei (Physiotherapist) Jackson Tuwei and Paul Mutwii (AK representatives) and Rose Chepsiror (chaperone).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\nMore News on allAfrica.com<\/strong><\/legend>\n<\/fieldset>\n

AllAfrica – All the Time<\/p>\n

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See original article:
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