Olympic javelin silver medallist Julius Yego was among top guns who fell by way side at the Commonwealth Games yesterday.
In 2014, Yego became the first Kenyan to win a javelin title at the Commonwealth Games but he has been on a downward trend since finishing 13th at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in London last year — and losing the title to Johannes Vetter.
Despite carrying an impressive 92.72m best to the start line, Yego bowed out in sixth place with a 74.55m throw in the qualifying round Group B category.
Homeboy Hamish Peacock (81.22m), Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem (80.45m) and Vipin Kashana (78.88m) of India topped as South Africa’s Phil-Mar Van Reusbugh (78.00m) and Ben Langhton Burnell (75.29m) of New Zealand followed.
The performance appeared as an anti-climax for Yego, who boasts an impressive trophy cabinet.
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He has won the All Africa Games, Africa Senior Championships, Commonwealth Games, World Athletics Championships, Olympic silver and some IAAF Diamond League meetings as bonus.
It now remains to be seen if Yego will seek redemption ahead of the IAAF Diamond League season that starts in Doha next month.
Alex Kiprotich also bowed out in the javelin qualifying round Group A after finishing sixth with a 74.88m throw.
Collins Omae, Peter Mwai, Boniface Mweresa and Mike Mokamba did not start in men’s 4x100m round one.
Christine Ongare settled for bronze medal in the women’s 51kg boxing category after losing to Carly Mcnaul of North Ireland 5-0 in the semi finals.
Kenya’s Lilian Nthiga lost to Sulfania Sherin of Bangladesh 5-0 and a similar loss to Nigeria’s Blessing Oburududu in the wrestling freestyle 68kg Group A category.
