AK’s efforts to revive sprints long overdue

In an unprecedented move, Athletics Kenya has for the first time included sprints in its calendar of events to revive the discipline that has been on the periphery for too long.

Sprints have been playing second-fiddle to middle and long distance, not because the country cannot produce sprinters, no! AK has simply not invested to enable the discipline to sprout.

Even the current sprinters are trained by their clubs including Kenya Prisons, Kenya Defence Forces, Kenya Police and the universities without input from AK.

Memories of yesteryears, when Kenya made her imprints on the global stage winning medals in short distance races are still fresh in our minds and examples abound.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Kenya produced great sprinters who went on to conquer African and the world, winning medals at various championships including Olympics. And Kenyans have been longing to see the same happen today.

Can you recall athletes such as Samson Kitur who won a silver medal in 400m at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992? And he was not alone. Charles Gitonga won 400m gold at the 1994 Commonwealth Games while Joseph Gikonyo rocked the 1991 African Championships, winning gold medals in both 100 and 200metres. A Kenyan 4x400m relay team took silver at the 1993 world championships. These achievements leave no doubt that Kenya is endowed with talent.

RELAY RUNNERS

The other generation of relay runners included Daniel Rudisha, Matesi Nyamau, Naftali Bon and Charles Asati. They won a silver at the 1968 Olympics. Kenya would win a gold medal at the 1972 Olympics in Munich courtesy of the relay team of Asati, Robert Ouko, Julius Sang and Hezekiah Nyamau.

So, how come Kenya does not produce the world beating sprinters any more? One obvious reasons is that we have not invested in sprints in terms of training equipment and expert coaches, which has seen athletes shy away from sprints.

Thus, AK’s bid to revive sprints is long overdue and the focus should be on nurturing young talent.

Most of the runners who have put Kenya on the world map started off as sprinters. A good example is World 800m record holder David Rudisha and former Olympic 800m champion Pamela Jelimo, who both started as 400m runners. This means sprints have real prospects.

Instead of blaming the “death” of sprints on lack of equipment and coaches, AK should tap talent and grow it. As the country prepares for the first World Relays in Bahamas this year, there is a cry already over lack of proper preparations. This is serious as the country also prepares for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. We need a clear plan if we are to make a breakthrough in sprints.