By Oscar Pilipili
Defending champions in 10,000m race Dan Kiprop and Caroline Nyagagwa are out to defend their titles in the Kenya Teachers Colleges Athletics Championships to be staged at Eregi starting Tuesday.
Kiprop of Kaimosi won the men’s race in 31 minutes 36.19seconds, while Nyagagwa of Nyanzwa clocked 37:16.80 to claim women’s title in last year’s championships at Kericho.
Kenya Teachers Colleges Sports Association (KTCSA) Secretary General Paul Okwaro predicted bitter rivalry among athletes from Nyanza, Western and Eastern zones.
“Nothing will be won on a silver platter and every team must fight tooth and nail to succeed in the Championships,” said Okwaro.
“Nyanza are the defending champions, but there could be tough opposition coming from Western and Eastern teams,” he said during a media briefing at the venue Monday.
Organisers will use the championships to select a team sponsored by Ministry of Education to the Athletics Kenya National trials scheduled for June 8-9 in Nairobi.
advance to trials
KTCSA Executive Officer Eliud Wambua said athletes who hit qualifying time and are within 18-19 age bracket advance to the trials.
Wambua told FeverPitch that all the seven zones affiliated to KTCSA have entered the four-day championships at Eregi in Kakamega County. The first regions to arrive at the venue were Central, Eastern and Rift Valley.
They compete against Nyanza, Nairobi, Coast and hosts Western.
Most of the zones embarked on team building excursions upon arrival with some going to as far as Busia to strategise for the championships.
SPECIAL NEEDS
Wambua confirmed that the championships are all inclusive following the introduction of a special needs category to accommodate physically handicapped athletes.
The competition’s programme starts today with opening ceremony and action gets underway tomorrow with 10,000m race at 10am.
Wambua said: “We invite all Kenyans to attend the championships and see what colleges can showcase in terms of talent. This is also great opportunity for scouts to identify talent that can represent Kenya in international juniors’ events.”
“The bulk of our team will come from primary and secondary schools, but there are a few runners in colleges who fall under the required age brackets,” said Wambua.
Benjamin Nyasani carried the flag of colleges in the 2010 World Junior Championships in Canada where he competed in sprints (100m, 200m and 400m).
“We hope more athletes from the cast at Eregi qualify for the World Junior Championships and put Kenyan colleges on the world map, once again,” said Wambua.
