Cherotich sets high jump record

Caroline Cherotich of Kenya Defence Force jumps to a new record during the National Athletics Championship pole volt event at the Nyayo National Stadium on July 14, 2011. Caroline Cherotich was on top of her game yesterday as she broke the 23-year-old national women’s high jump record at the Kenya Defence Forces Athletics Championships at Kasarani. PHOTO/MOHAMMED AMIN

What you need to know:

  • The 26-year-old from Kahawa Barracks scaled 1.75m to erase Lena Serem’s 1.71m set in 1991 during a similar meet.
  • Cherotich said her dream now is to represent Kenya  at the Commonwealth Games due on July 23 to August 3 in Glasgow and Africa Championships slated for August 10-14 in Marrakech, Morocco.

Caroline Cherotich was on top of her game on Wednesday as she broke the 23-year-old national women’s high jump record at the Kenya Defence Forces Athletics Championships at Kasarani.

The 26-year-old from Kahawa Barracks scaled 1.75m to erase Lena Serem’s 1.71m set in 1991 during a similar meet.

Pricilla Nasimiyu from Isiolo scaled 1.60m to don silver with Nairobi’s Cherotich Koech going for bronze with 1.56m.

“You only feel happy with what you are doing especially when the body is responding well,” said Cherotich, who also holds the pole vault national record of 3.20m set in 2012.

Cherotich said her dream now is to represent Kenya  at the Commonwealth Games due on July 23 to August 3 in Glasgow and Africa Championships slated for August 10-14 in Marrakech, Morocco.

 Lack of exposure

“I will be glad if I  qualify for whichever event,” said Cherotich, who decried lack of exposure and facilities for the field events. “We cannot improve without modern equipment especially in pole vault.”

Four-time Africa champion Grace Wanjiru of Moi Air Base won the women’s walk as  David Kimutai won the men’s event. The 34-year-old Wanjiru, who holds the Africa and Championship record time of 1:34.19 from the 2010 Nairobi Africa Championships, won the women’s 20km event in 1:49.50, ahead of Emily Ngii (Nanyuki) in 1:52.10. Susan Chepng’etich (Kahawa) took bronze in 1:58.25.

YET TO UNLOCK

“I want to concentrate on my defence of the Africa title since the race walk is not in the Commonwealth Games programme,” said Wanjiru, who won bronze on her debut at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Kimutai (Nanyuki), the 1999 All Africa Games and 2006 Africa Champion, retained the men’s 23.6km race walk title in 2:02.19, beating Nicodemus Musau (Nanyuki) 2:05.09 and Simon Misango (Lanet) 2:13.17.

“I’m yet to unlock my body but I want to be in good shape for the Africa event,” said Kimutai, the 2010 and 2012 Africa Championships silver winner.

“Organisers treated me unfairly in 2012 when they denied me victory.

“I want to prove them wrong,” said Kimutai, the bronze winner at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Fresh from setting Africa record with victory in 3,000m at the Doha Diamond League last Friday, Hellen Obiri continued to shine posting the fastest time of 2:06.8 in women’s 800m semi-finals.

Obiri (LAB), who claimed silver in 3,000m at the World Indoor Championships in March, edged out Charity Wambua (Kahawa) to second place in 2:08.1.

as Perin Nenkampi (MAB) settled third in 2:08.9.

Sela Jepleting (Lanet)won the second semi-final in 2:07.7, beating Nelly Jeptanui (Nairobi) 2:09.4 and Scola Jepkemboi (Nanyuki) 2:16.2 to all qualify for the final due today.

Obiri and Nenkampi are in women’s 4x1,500m team for the World Relays due May 24 to 25 in Nassau, Bahamas.

Agnes Chesang from Isiolo won women’s 3,000m final, closking 9:46.1 with Elizabeth Mueni (MAB) and Lucia Kamene( LAB) claiming silver and bronze receptively.