Kericho athletes ready for the 5th AK track

Bureti, Thursday April 13, 2023

K.N.A By Sarah Njagi  

Eleven seasoned athletes from Kericho County are set to compete in the two day 5th athletics Kenya (AK) track and field weekend meet slated for Friday April 14 at the Gusii Stadium, Kisii.

AK Kericho County Vice Chairman Gabriel Kiptanui in an interview with KNA at Kericho Green Stadium, said he was confident that the eight men and three women athletes will post excellent results from their various track disciplines, as they had shown consistency in their training.

Kiptanui who doubles up as head coach said, the eleven will post good results as they were dedicated to their running careers, with each posting personal best times in the past AK build up series competitions.

He was hopeful that the Kericho team will clinch top slots in their different track and field disciplines.

The vice chairman revealed that the region has great potential of producing great runners, with many of them having brought home medals after competing in World athletic championships.

In an interview with Kericho based three-time Olympic champion Miriam Cherop, she expressed optimism that she will improve on her speed and extend her winning streak during the 5th AK weekend meet.   

The 23-year-old 2016 Africa Junior Women cross country champion is a seasoned athlete in 10km and 2km senior women disciplines, having bagged silver in 2018 World under-20 1,500m held in Tampere, Finland and again wining gold in the mixed relay race during the World Cross Country championships held in Bathurst, Australia in February this year.    

“My trainings and performances in the several build up AK competitions have been going on well and I am happy with the results.  I was with the Kenyan quartet of Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Daniel Munguti and Brenda Chebet during the World Cross Country championships where we won gold in 23:14 with the Ethiopians clocking 23:21 for second place and I am positive I will do very well in the 5th AK weekend meet,” said Cherop.

On her part, two-time winner of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships Emily Chebet said she was ready for the 5th AK weekend meet after competing in the Milano Marathon held in Italy on April 2.

The professional athlete who specializes in 10,000 metres and cross country running came in position three in the recent Milano Marathon, Italy after recovering from an injury she picked last year.

“I thank God and my coach Gabriel for the many advises he gives me during my trainings. In the Milano Marathon which was 42km I had a personal best time of 2:28 and I look forward to good results in the 5th weekend meet,” said Chebet.

Other renowned runners coached by Kiptanui include female long distance runner and 2015 steeplechase world champion Stella Chelangat, 800 meters’ silver medalist 2019 World U20 in Tampere, Finland Kipngetich Ngeno, 2013 World U18 1, 500m steeplechase gold medalist Robert Biwott, Mercy Cherono who broke world youth record in women’s 3000m in 2007 in Ostrava, Czech Republic and the reigning world 3,000m steeplechase champion Beatrice Chepkoech.   

Courtesy K.N.A