Police sprinter puts medal jinx in the crosshairs

National 400m champion Joyce Zakary will be living a dream when she lines up against her two role models at this year’s World Championship in Berlin.

Zakary will share the track with Jamaican sprinter Veronica Campbell and American Sanya Richards, the Olympic 400m bronze medallist.

The policewoman, who is based in Embu, the Eastern Province headquarters, has never raced outside Africa, let alone travel beyond the continent’s borders. But her devotion and determination has seen her win her first trip to Europe.

In the German city, she will, for the first time, be wearing the national jersey after she posted a personal best time of 51:56 in Abuja, Nigeria, at the Pan-African Athletics meeting last month.

Ever since Ruth Waithera (51.56) finished eighth at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Kenya has failed to put another sprinter in the international arena.

The jinx was briefly broken by Kenya Prisons’ Elizabeth Muthuka at the Beijing Olympics, but she was silently dropped from the team to Asia when she testing positive to a banned substance.

And while all looked forward to a time when a new athlete would step up and fill the shoes of Waithera, 23-year-old Zakary has emerged and is relishing the challenge.

A podium finish might be too much to ask, according to Zakary, but a shot at the finals in Berlin is well within the police officer’s reach. She says she will not let the chance to star and probably catch the eye of agents slip through her fingers.

“I know the expectations are high. I, too, did not expect to be named in the team, but when my name was called to line up, as a policewoman I did not turn down the call. I seek to seize the moment and obey the command,” she said.

‘They frightened me’

When Zakary broke into the international scene at the 2007 All Africa Games in Algiers, few knew her. She was bundled out in the preliminaries.

“It was my first time outside Kenya. I had never raced against such heavily built athletes; they frightened me. That is why I never went far. In Addis Ababa last year, during the Africa Championship, I was sixth, which was an improvement. Now that I’m in the Kenya team to the World Championship, I feel so happy,” she said.

Born on June 6, 1986, in Webuye, Western Province, Zakary started running when she was in high school. She won the schools national championship in 2003 and 2004 while competing for Namanga Girls High School in the 200m and 100m races.

“It is then that I was spotted by the Kenya Police. But I had to go back and finish my studies. I then joined the force and it has been business as usual trying to break into the national team. Sprints have never been Kenya’s favoured events. But here I am. Berlin is beckoning and I relish the challenge; it will be quite an experience for me,” said Zakary.

Stunned opponents

With a moderate physique, Zakary has stunned her opponents in Africa who are more physically endowed. But that is just Africa. At the world stage she will probably be staring at Campbell and wondering what to say to her.

“I like Campbell, but just like (Sanya) Richards, I expect to break through and hit the finals. The rest is not for me to decide; the running will,” Zakary added.

With the target set at 51.50 seconds for qualification under category ‘A’ in the one-lap race, the Kenyan could only secure a personal best time of 51.56 seconds in finishing third overall in Abuja. Zakary triumphed ahead of Nigerians Endurance Abinuwa (52.56) and Josephine Ehigwe (52.60).

Exposure purposes

But Zakary will wear a grin as she boards the plane for Berlin. Athletics Kenya chairman Isaiah Kiplagat said when she was entered under category ‘B’ (52.30 seconds), Zakary was considered for exposure purposes.

But for Zakary, she has a trump card up her sleeve, which she will be unleashing at the global track and field championship.

“Many sprinters do not get this opportunity – to showcase their talent at such big championship. It is something I will cherish forever,” Zakary observed.

Her parting shot to opponents?

“My underdog status will help me, God willing. Rule me out at your own peril.”