Reigning world U18 1,500m champion George Manangoi will overcome the grieve he suffered and win the title at the World Under 20 championships set for July in Tampere, Finland.
According to Kenya Junior coach Robert Ngisirei, George, who competes alongside his elder brother Elijah Manangoi, the youngster will be fit for the world showpiece that kicks off in less than two weeks.
Manangoi was second during the Kenya trials but had to leave the camp after he lost his sister during the trials and his brother Elijah was given a wild card by Athletics Kenya after he missed the finals following his win in the 1,500m semifinals during the national trials ahead of Africa senior Athletics championships to be staged in Assaba, Nigeria.
The siblings lost their elder sister Bena.
“Manangoi will overcome the grieve. I want him to look at it as inspiration and win [at the] IAAF World U20 Championships for his sister. He is a strong athlete and we want him to be at his best form mentally and physically for the championships,” said Ngisirei.
Kenya’s George Meitamei Manangoi celebrates his win in the 1500m finals during the World Under 18 Championship at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, July 14, 2017. Picture: LOC/Noor Khamis (Kenya)
Speaking on Thursday, the coach was optimistic that all shall be well in Tampere and the boy will come home with gold, the same way he did during the world U18 championships where he gave Kenya team the first gold at Kasarani.
Athletics Kenya named a squad of 27 member team for the championships but the coach was forced to give the 1500m youth champion time off to travel home.
Ngiserei said the country must be wary of the danger posed by the USA, Germany, Ethiopia, Uganda, Jamaica and China. China has selected four Under-18 world champions from the team that took part in the World U18 Championships in Nairobi last year.
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