Speed star Odero eyes podium finish during Kisumu AK races

 

Sprinters Beatrice Odero (center) with other athletes during the first track and field weekend meeting at the Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, February 5, 2022. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Sprinter Beatrice Odero is keen on putting her first leg disappointments behind her as she prepares for the upcoming Athletics Kenya Track and Field second leg at Moi Stadium, in Kisumu, on Saturday.

The two-day event is the second of the four weekend meetings lined up and will culminate in the national championships slated for May.

Odero failed to reach the finals of 100m and 200m during opening leg of the 2022 AK Track and Field event at Nyayo Stadium earlier this month after falling during the semifinals and injuring her wrist.

However, after a week out, Odero is back in training and focused on showing what she can do when fit.

Speaking with Standard Sports, Odero said she believes competing at home and with her fans cheering her on, she can challenge for a podium finish and even lower her personal best in 100m of 12.05 seconds.

“I was disappointed with the Nairobi meet after I was injured. I wanted to start the year with a bang, but that was not the end of the road because here we are again at the Kisumu meet.”

“I consider Kisumu to be my home and it would be such a wonderful moment in my career to lower my personal best in front of my home fans. I am not ruling anything out. A podium finish will be an awesome thing to achieve too especially after coming from a horrifying injury,” she said.

Odero, who hails from Homa Bay County, has represented Kenya thrice in 100m and 200m sprints.

In 2018, she represented Kenya at the World Under 20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland before running at the Africa Youth Games in 2018 and 2019.

Meanwhile, Athletics Kenya Nyanza-North PRO Jared Gilo has confirmed preparations are going on well ahead of the second leg meet at Moi Stadium.

Gilo said there will be 18 events, but the 3,000m steeplechase category will be missing in action because of the unavailability of water jumps.

However, athletes will be granted the opportunity to run 3000m flat.

“We are ready to welcome athletes to Kisumu for the second leg. We expect more runners from the vast Nyanza region and Western to come out and compete for a chance to represent Kenya in world championships,” said Gilo.

“Apart from the small water jump problems, all categories will be accommodated and we are looking forward to a fruitful event.”

Among the categories on offer include discuss, shotput, hammer, long jump, javelin, triple jump, among others.

The first leg of the series held the past weekend at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi, attracted a record number of athletes, who were keen on kick-starting their track and field season. 

In particular, the men’s 100m consisted of over 120 sprinters, forcing the race to be segmented into 17 heats.

After the Kisumu meeting, athletes will head to Embu for another series slated for March 5, before heading to Kakamega on March 19 for the final leg.

Counties will then hold their respective championships early April with regions set to stage their championships by April 16.

This will then pave way for the national championships, which are scheduled for April 28-30.