PLATFORM TO EXCEL: Athletes urge authorities to invest heavily in short and middle distances races

 

FEAT TO CHERISH: Some of the Kenyan athletes, who took part in the World Relays Championships in Bahamas, pose with their medals upon arrival at the JKIA on Tuesday night. The games ended on Sunday. [PHOTO: JENNIFER WACHIE/ STANDARD]

Kenyan athletes have urged the authorities to invest handsomely in sprint races for the country to compete effectively with the rest of the world.

This was a honest opinion of the Team Kenya that returned from the World Relays Championships that ended in Bahamas last Sunday.

They won two gold medals besides shuttering the world record in the same events-( 4 x 500m women and 4 x 1,500m men). They also bagged a silver medal in women 4 x 800m.

The team’s captain Mark Mutai, an experienced sprinter from the Air Force, said they had a brilliant and memorable experience in Nassau. The athlete said the relay was an eye opener and appealed to Athletics Kenya (AK), the Government and other stakeholders to invest in sprinters for Kenya to excel.

“It was a lifetime experience and I urge all the stakeholders to invest in sprints because there is great potential. They should at least give us more exposure,” Mutai told FeverPitch.

Mutai was in 4x00m event with Boniface Mucheru, Solomon Bwoga and Alex Sambao.

The squad that showcased to the world their supremacy in the sprints were warmly welcomed at the busy Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by family members and supporters amid wild celebrations.

The elated side though looked fatigued from a long flight from Bahamas through Cuba, Amsterdam to Nairobi; pulled bright faces for their feat.

Excited Bwoga, a soldier, was received by his wife Hellen Maina, a sprinter with the KDF and his three-year-old son Dyson Bwoga.

Superb exposure

Though they didn’t make it to the podium, Bwoga praised the outing saying: “It was superb exposure and we sincerely request AK to organise more championships for us to excel. We are not asking them to take us far like Europe. No! Even places like Uganda or South Africa will help a lot,” he said.

Assistant team captain, former World and Olympic silver medalist Janeth Jepkosgei (4x1500m) reiterated Bwoga’s sentiments.

She noted that her motivation emanates from seeing her young teammates taking off the blocks in style for global laurels.

“I am excited with this involvement and more so when I see my young teammates fitting in on their bid to be the world beaters. It is great,” she said.

Her team which had World champ Eunice Sum,  Sylvia Chesebe, Agatha Cheruto and Cherono Koech, narrowly lost gold to US.

The 4x200m men’s team, which was nearly dropped for Bahamas by AK, proved wrong the critics that they were no push-overs in a challenge dominated by Jamaican and US.

Led by experienced Stephen Barasa and Tony Chirchir, the duo said it is possible to reverse the Jamaican and Americans control.

With 12 years in active athletics Chirchir, an alumni of Boror High in Eldama Ravine and coached by Barnabas Kitilit, said Kenya will rule the roost in sprints in the near future.

Also in the team is the son to former sprinter Elkana Nyang’au, Walter Moenga, who said it’s only a matter of time before Kenya step proper on global map in sprints. Peter Katana who coached Moenga also called for exposure.

Excellent result

Head coach Sammy Rono said it was excellent result, though Americans capitalised on Kenya starting line-up where he started with slightly inexperienced Agatha and Chesebe before anchoring on stronger Cherono and wrapping with Jepkosgei.

Mercy Cherono, Hellen Obiri, Faith Chepngetich didn’t accompany the team as they proceed to Eugene for the “Bowman” Prefointaine challenge this Saturday.

The team receives lucrative prize awards of Sh5.6 million and similar amount for world records. Safaricom will add more beams on winners’ hearts with Sh1 million for gold, Sh600,000 for silver and Sh400,000 for bronze. Apparently, there was no Government official at the airport to receive the team.