Relay duo of Mweresa, Kishioyan leave for UK with Kipyego
From left; Olympians Boniface Mweresa, 18-year-old Faith Chepngetich, Timothy Kitum and Alphas Kishoiya after they received free DStv installation and one month premium subscription. All the London 2012 Olympics team will each receive tokens from Multichoice Kenya.
Team Kenya’s preparation for 2012 Olympic Games is expected to gather momentum in London after three more athletes left the country for the United Kingdom on Sunday.
Men’s 4x400 metres relay duo of Boniface Mweresa and Alphas Kishioyan as well as women’s 5,000m and 10,000m gold medal hopeful, Sally Kipyego, left the country accompanied by sprints coach Isaac Kirwa.
Sports Minister Paul Otuoma, National Olympics Committee of Kenya chairman Kipchoge Keino and Athletics Kenya boss, Isaiah Kiplagat also left the country to attend Friday’s opening ceremony.
Kipyego based in the US
The surprise departure is that of Kipyego who will be the only long distance runner training in London. Kipchoge said Kipyego was free to make the decision as all athletes have been given an opportunity to choose their travel plans.
“All the other long distance runners are training in the high altitude but Kipyego made the choice to train in London and, since we gave them the opportunity to chose where to train, we wish her all the best,” he said.
Kishoiyan and Mweresa will team up with David Rudisha, Vincent Mumo and Mark Mutai in the quest for the relay title. Kenya won gold medal in men’s relay at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
A majority of athletes in Team Kenya, mostly long distance runners, are expected to leave the country for London on July 30, three days after the start of the Olympics to prepare for athletics events which will start on August 5.
After competing in the Monaco Diamond League on Friday where he won with a new world leading time of 3:28.88, World and Olympic 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop and Nixon Chepseba were expected in the country on Sunday to join other middle and long distance runners in training.
