Tag Archives: Africa Championships

Athletics

Julius Kipkwony takes the 10,000m title at Kip Keino Classic

Julius Kipkwony is the man with a mission as he sets his focus towards winning a medal at the 22nd edition of the Africa championships that will be held from 08 June to 12 June in Reduit, Mauritius.

Chepkwony who trains at the Torongo Training camp in Baringo County ran away with the honors in the men’s 10,000m at the 3rdd edition of the Kip Keino Classic, the World Athletics Continental Tour that is being held at the Moi Sports Centre, Kasarani.

Chepkwony took the honors in the 25 lap race in a time of 28:28.34 ahead of Wesley Kimutai who crossed the line in second place in 28:32.09 with North Rift region 10,000m champion, Abraham Longosiwa closing the podium three finishes in a time 28:35.01.

Chepkwony used this event as part of his training and preparations for the continental championships.  “I’m so happy to have won the race and I had to run a calculative race. Winning today has given me more energy to go and work on my training endurance and speed because Africa Championships will be competitive,” said Chepkwony.

LEADING RESULTS

10,000M MEN

1.Julius Kipkwony        28:28.34

2 Wesley Kimutai          28:32.09

3 Abraham Longosiwa 28:35.01

Athletics

Benjamin Kigen to defend his title as Kenya names team for Africa championships

Reigning Olympic Games 3,000m steeplechase bronze medallist Benjamin Kigen will be seeking to defend his water and barrier title at the 22nd edition of the Africa championships that will be held from 08 June to 12 June  in Reduit, Mauritius.

Kigen who is the World Military Games champion has named alongside the 2015 African Junior Champion Abraham Kibiwott and Geoffrey Kirwa

The 2015 Africa Games Athletics championships silver medalist Boniface Mtunga Mweresa is back into the National team after serving his two-year ban for use of higenamine, a prohibited substance in sports.

The 28 year-old will be competing in 400m alongside two time’s National champion, Collins Omae Gichana and William Rayan.

Athletics Kenya named the final squad of 68 athletes, 34 men and 34 women that will be representing Kenya at the bi-annual championships.

The team will be under the tutelage of Julius Kirwa where Kenya will have teams in men and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relay races.

Three-time World 10,000m bronze medallist Paul Tanui will be chasing his maiden win.

Final team

Women

  1. 100m -Maximilla Imali, Monica Safania, Eunice Kadogo
  2. 100m hurdles -Priscilla Tabunda
  3. 200m -Maximilla Imali, Millicent Ndoro, Eunice Kadogo
  4. 400m – Veronica Mutua, Jacinta Shikanda, Hellen Syombua
  5. 400m hurdles -Jane Chege, Ann Mwangi
  6. 800m -Jarinter Mawia, Naomi Korir, Vivian Chebet
  7. 1500m -Purity Chepkirui, Winny Chebet, Brenda Chebet
  8. 3000m SC- Jackline Chepkoech, Cellphine Chespol, Carren Chebet
  9. 5000m – Beatrice Chebet, Caroline Nyaga, Nesphine Jepleting
  10. 10,000m -Alice Aprot, Judy Komen, Brilliant Chepkorir
  11. 4x100m -Maximilla Imali, Monica Safania, Eunice Kadogo, Millicent Ndoro, Mercy Chebet
  12. 4x400m- Veronica Mutua, Jacinta Shikanda, Hellen Syombua, Joan Cherono
  13. 20km Race Walk- Sylvia Kemboi, Emily Ngii, Grace Wanjiru
  14. Hammer- Lucy Omondi, Linda Oseso, Roselyne Rakamba
  15. Javelin- Martha Musai

Men

  1. 100m- Ferdinand Omanyala, Samuel Imeta, Dennis Otieno
  2. 110m hurdles -Wiseman Were, Michael Musyoki,
  3. 200m -Ferdinand Omanyala, Dan Kiviasi, Mike Mokamba
  4. 400m-Collins Omae, William Rayan, Boniface Mweresa
  5. 400m hurdles-Wiseman Were, William Mbevi, Rotich Kipkorir
  6. 800m -Noah Kibet, Nicholas Kebenei, Elias Ngeny
  7. 1,500m -Abel Kipsang, Kumari Taki, Daniel Munguti
  8. 3,000m SC -Abraham Kibiwott, Geoffrey Kirwa, Benjamin Kigen
  9. 5,000m -Daniel Simiu, Ismael Kirui, Michael Kibet
  10. 10,000m-Kenneth Kiprop, Julius Chepkwony, Paul Tanui
  11. 4x100m –Ferdinand Omanyala, Samuel Imeta, Dennis Otieno, Dan Kiviasi, Hesbon Ochieng
  12. 4x400m- Collins Omae, William Rayan, Boniface Mweresa, Kennedy Kimeu, Nathaniel Kipng’etich
  13. 20km Race Walk -Samuel Gathimba, Heristone Wanyonyi, Simon Wachira
  14. High jump –Mathew Sawe, Asbel Kiprop
  15. Triple Jump- Gilbert Pkemoi, Isaac Kirwa, Philip Mwendwa
  16. Hammer- Dominic Abunda
  17. Javelin –Julius Yego, Alexander Kiprotich, Methusela Kiprop
  18. Decathlon-Edwin Too, Gilbert Koech
  19. Team manager- Ainsworth Maragara
Athletics

Conseslus Kipruto warns critics ahead of African Championships

Olympic and world 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto has dismissed criticism about his fitness ahead of the Africa Championships, which starts in Asaba, Nigeria from Aug 1-5.

Speaking in Nairobi on Monday, Kipruto cautioned his opponents. “I love being low-key. You will see me when you will see me,” Kipruto told Xinhua on Monday in Nairobi. “I will put all of my effort in there. I’m ready for it.”

The Commonwealth Games champion has had his worst start to a season, failing to star in the Rome, Eugene, Rabat and Monaco Diamond league meetings. But he believes his worst days are over and he will win his maiden continental title in Nigeria as the curtains rises on the Africa Championships.

“It has not been easy and this is purely down to my own making. I have run the best time this season at 8:08:40 in Rome, but I can do better and winning the Africa title is one thing that inspires me. It is a medal I have not touched,” he said.

Kipruto is among key Kenyan athletes who have been drafted into the team eyeing to improve on their last collection in South Africa where the country claimed 24 medals.

Head coach Stephen Mwaniki is happy he has taken his team through training without any injury concerns and had a full week with all his stars in camp after they returned home from competing in the Diamond League.

“The preparations have been good and though sometimes I missed the elite runners, we have had one good week together and have built a team that can do better than any other we have had in the competition,” Mwaniki said.

Kenya is seeking to widen its medal scope beyond the middle and long distance races by incorporating sprints and field events and Mwaniki is certain this program will yield medals in Nigeria.

“Sprint and field events will be critical to dominating the championships in medals. That is why we have a strong team ready for just that purpose,” Mwaniki added.

South Africa has won three of the past five editions of the African Championships, topping the medals table at Addis Ababa 2008, Marrakech 2014 and Durban 2016.

Kenya hosted and won the 2010 edition of the championships, while Nigeria dominated the 2012 African Championships held in Port Novo, Benin.

xinhuanet.com

Athletics

Nyairera out to make amends as she battles Semenya and Niyosaba in Lausanne

Olympic 800m bronze medallist Margaret Nyairera is seeking to bounce back at the Lausanne Diamond League meeting tomorrow after failing to finish in Paris a week ago.

Nyairera has had a mixed season so far at the circuit, finishing sixth at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon, where she posted 1:58.67 in her first outing.
Nyairera hopes to find her form ahead of the Africa Championships slated for Nigeria next month. “The Diamond league races will enable me find the right form ahead of the Africa Championship,” she added.
Nyairera, who bagged silver the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast last April, said the early start to the season has contributed to her struggles on track. “The season started early with the Commonwealth Games but I hope come the Africa even,  I will be in peak condition,” she added. World and Commonwealth Games champion Caster Semenya won the two-lap race in Paris in 1:54.25. Former world champion Eunice Sum will also be in contention in the Swiss city after finishing ninth in 1:59.25 in Paris.
The two Kenyans will face off with Olympic silver medallist Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi, who was second in Paris behind Semenya in 1:55.86. Others to look out for include Ajee Wilson of the United States, home favourite Selina Buchel, Lynsey Sharp of the United States and Alemu Habitam of Ethiopia.
Davis Kiplangat leads a formidable strong Kenyan contingent in the 5000 metres alongside Collins Cheboi, Vincent Letting, David Bett, Sylvester Kiprotich and Richard Kimunyan in the 12-lap race.
They face stern test from Ethiopia’s World champion Muktar Edris alongside Yomif Kekelecha and world Under-18 champion Selemon Barega in a competitive field that is expected to produce fireworks.
Winny Chebet will lead Kenya’s hunt in the 1,500 metres alongside Nelly Jepkosgei and Emiliy Cherotich. The trio will be up against Hassan Sifan (Netherlands), Meraf Bahta (Sweden), Laura Muir (Great Britain), Dawit Seyaum, Gudaf Tsegay (Ethiopia), Liden Hall (Australia) and Arafi Rababe (Morocco).

Athletics

Julius Yego returns from European training camp

Kenya’s javelin sensation Julius Yego and world 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri will be among the elite athletes eyeing a return to the African Athletics Championships having skipped competition two years ago.

Olympic silver medalist Yego has been training in Europe and returned to Kenya for final preparations ahead of the national championships in Nairobi from Thursday, which will serve as trials for the Africa Championships.

Only the top two athletes in each discipline will secure their tickets to the competition in Asaba, Nigeria. This year’s event, which runs from August 1st to 5th, will be the 21st edition and will feature athletes from every one of Africa’s 54 states.

Speaking in Nairobi, Yego said he had gained tremendous ground since returning to action, after he battled groin and ankle injuries that saw him lose the world title last year in London.

“I have returned to action and managed to throw the javelin over 80 meters twice in Ostrava and Finland. Now the focus will be to make the Kenya team, compete in one more Diamond League event and head to Nigeria to try and win the Africa title,” he said on Tuesday.

However, for Obiri, the allure of competing at the Athletics World Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic in September is what motivates her to return to the continental championships. Four years ago, she made the cut, but ultimately failed to win the 1,500m race.

“In my two previous appearances at the Africa Championships, I always competed in the 1,500m race. This will be my first time at the Africa Championships as a 5,000m athlete. In 2014 I won the 1,500m title in Mauritius but did not manage a podium finish during the World Cup,” said Obiri on Tuesday in Nairobi.

A sabbatical from competition to give birth to her first child and loss of form in 2018 have taken the wind out of Obiri’s sails.

However, she is confident of returning to top form ahead of Kenya’s trial this weekend and hopes she will go on to excel in Nigeria and also in Ostrava for the IAAF World Cup on September 8th and 9th.

“I’m confident in my training and I can see good results ahead, especially during the IAAF Athletics World Cup. I hope when I compete in the 3,000m it will erase the disappointments of 2014 when I finished fourth (4:08.15) and out of the medal bracket,” added Obiri.

Other athletes to look out for include Elijah Manangoi, the World and Commonwealth Games 1,500m champion, 400m hurdler Nicholas Bett, defending high jump champion Mathew Sawe and walking race duo Samuel Gathimba and Grace Wanjiru.

Kenya will be hoping to form a strong team to wrest the overall title from South Africa and hosts Nigeria, who have dominated the competition in recent years.

Ethiopia, Uganda and Morocco are also expected to feature strongly in the quest for medals.

xinhuanet.com

Athletics

Tirop targets Africa C’ships gold despite road race supremacy

World 10,000m bronze medalist Agnes Tirop says that despite her dominance in road races, she remains a track athlete and is focused on winning gold at the Africa Championships, which will be held in Asaba, Nigeria in August.

Tirop, who won gold at the Nanjing World Cross Country in China back in 2015, has had problems with injuries, which curtailed her rise in the sport.

However, she has emerged stronger in late 2017 and this season and hopes to continue growing stronger on her redemption path.

“I had a good race on the track in Doha (over 3,000m at the IAAF Diamond League meeting there earlier this month) – and I still think of myself as a track runner even though I won the world cross country title in 2015 and in Bengaluru, India,” said Tirop on Sunday.

The Kenyan will resume the premier Diamond League series in Rome on May 30 and hopes she will be strong enough to contest for medals in the 5,000m race.

“I know my finishing speed is fine, so I hope to still be at the front when Kenya trials for the Africa Championships are help in June. I know I can rely on my speed to have an edge over my rivals,” she added.

The 23-year-old won the world 10km race in Bengaluru, India on Sunday together with compatriot Geoffrey Kamworor, who is also the World Half Marathon champion.

Kamworor has not lost a race since 2017. He has featured in four top competitions and has always emerged stronger.

His unbeaten streak, which started with his win at the New York Marathon in November, has continued through his four outings in 2018.

“I went to India thinking about the course record and tried the best I could, but I could feel the temperature rising as I was warming up. I was jogging for just three minutes before starting to sweat,” said Kamworor.

The New York marathon champion has not ruled out competing for Kenya at the Africa Championships.

However, that decision will have to be taken in discussion with his management and coaches. But he is certain that he will be ready to defend his New York marathon crown.

“I have not made up my mind about running in the Africa Championships. That will be decided later. What I know is I want to defend my crown in New York. I skipped a lot of track competition last year and early this year to focus on the World Half marathon and now I have to decide which, events to focus on,” he added.

xinhuanet.com