Munguti pledges to blaze the podium at Riga 2023 World Athletics Road Race Championships

Bureti,

Friday, September 15, 2023

KNA by Sarah Njagi

A Kericho based athlete who clinched gold in the World Cross Country championships mixed relay category held in Bathurst, Australia in February this year is set to represent Kenya again at the 2023 World Athletics Road Running Championships set to take place next month.

Daniel Munguti who featured in the 4 by 2km mixed relay race with team mates Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Miriam Cherop and Brenda Chebet reclaimed the title they had lost four years ago beating Ethiopia with the host country Australia taking the bronze medal. He will feature in the one mile road race in the world athletics road running games in Riga, Latvia to be held from 30 September to 1 October.

The start of the Road Mile race will take place at the capital city Riga where amateur and elite athletes from at least 100 countries will compete for the crown.

In an interview with KNA at Gariette training grounds the 28-year- old athlete who missed the just concluded 2023 World Athletics Championships held in Budapest, Hungary said that his focus is on the road mile race and was optimistic on bringing home a medal.

 “I am in good shape and I have hopes of winning. In the two weeks remaining I am training very hard with the help of my coach Gabriel and I am confident that I will not disappoint my Kericho team and my country.” said Munguti.

The seasoned athlete in the 5000m and 1500m men disciplines has featured in both local and international athletic competitions. In June this year he represented Kenya in the 1500m at the 22nd CAA Africa Athletics Championships in Mauritius.

He romped in second in the 1500m race at the 2023 World Athletics Continental tour held in Belizona Switzerland held on September 4 with a personal best of 3:34.06 and expressed optimism he will improve on his speed and make it to the podium.

 The athlete trains under Coach Gabriel Kiptanui who doubles up as Athletics Kenya (AK) First Vice Chairman, Kericho branch

Speaking to KNA, coach Kiptanui said Munguti is dedicated and disciplined in his trainings and has posted positive personal best times in both local and international races and was hopeful that he will bring home gold.

  “I am positive Munguti will continue posting excellent results at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Latvia. He has great potential and is talented in his track disciplines. Currently, we are training to ensure he is in good shape and he works at maintaining his running speed,” said Kiptanui.  

Courtesy; KNA