BY KEVIN TONUI
 |
| TOP: Ezekiel Kemboi receives the award from Governors Jackson mandago (left, Uasin Gishu), Patrick Khaemba (right, Trans Nzoia) and AK President Isaiah Kiplagat; MIDDLE: Marathon queens Catherine Ndereba (right) and Prisca Jeptoo with coaches John Velzian and George Kariuki; ABOVE: Ezekiel Kemboi, Benjamin Limo (left) and AK official Jinaro Kibet. [PHOTOS: KEVIN TONUI / STANDARD] |
Double Olympic 3,000m steeplechaser Ezekiel Kemboi and 2013 World Championships 800m surprise gold medalist Eunice Sum were crowned the 2013 Athletics Kenya (AK) male and female athletes of the year.
The gala, held on Thursday night, themed ‘Our County, Our Champions’ was being held for the first time in Eldoret, famed for being the world capital of distance running. Veteran athletes who represented the country in international competitions from 1948 graced the event, which sealed a three-day athletes’ seminar.
Kemboi, who proved to be the master of the water and barrier race entertained the invited guests with his trademark ‘Emily Jepchumba dance’ as he jumped on stage to receive his trophy.
‘Mursik’ was the key highlight after the trophy presentation as octogenarians belting out traditional celebratory songs handed the gourds to Kemboi and Sum amid thundering cheering.
Kemboi, who bagged his sixth world championships medal in Moscow, stated he felt humbled by the award, saying it was well deserved having represented the country for over a decade.
“It has been a long journey representing Kenya for the last 13 years and I feel humbled to be awarded, and God has been really helpful in my career,” he said.
Marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang’ and double world marathon championship winner Ednah Kiplagat emerged winners in the marathon awards.
In addition to being nominated for the AIPS awards as the best marathoner, Kipsang bagged the World Record Award, after shaving Patrick Makau’s time to set a new world record in a time of 2.03.23 in the Berlin Marathon.
National javelin record holder Julius Yego won the Field Events Award, as new sensation Alex Kiprotich won with the Most Promising Athlete Award. Milcah Chemos, the first Kenyan woman to win a world steeplechase gold in Moscow, was awarded the Steeplechase Award alongside Ezekiel Kemboi.
task force
Olympics 3m000m steeplechase silver medalist Conseslus Kipruto together with Lydia Chepkirui won the Most Improved Athlete Award.
Asbel Kiprop and Eunice Sum won the Middle Distance Award . Paul Tanui and Gladys Cherono won the 10,000 Meters Award.
The Commissioner for Sports Gordon Oluoch, who represented Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario, lauded the AK for organising the seminar and gala, saying such forums inspire athletes to perform even better.
He added that the government had set up a task force to investigate doping after the World Anti-Doping Agency had raised concerns over Kenyan athletes.
Reading the Cabinet Secretaries speech, Oluoch noted that the Sports Act will soon be operational to ensure smooth running of sports in the country.
Athletic Kenya president Isaiah Kiplagat lauded the effort put in by the athletes in achieving success and urged them to perform better in the next season.
“The coming season is a busy one and the highlight of that season is the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, and the relays in Bahamas,” he said. The president congratulated the government for being a partner in the development of sports in the country.
