Athletics schedule begins in China

The athletics programme at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, gets under way Wednesday with Kenyans in action in four races.

First off the blocks will be Moses Koech, who will be lining up in men’s 3,000m heats at 1:55pm, before Jackline Kipkoech fields in women’s 3,000m heats I at 2.35pm.

Koech, who has a personal best 8:05.22, will once again come face to face with World Youth champion Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha Kejelcha, who beat him during the Africa Youth Games final.  

Kejelcha clocked 7:56.51, the fastest time in the world so far this year by a youth athlete, beating Koech to second place at the Africa event in Botswana.

Kejelcha won the World Youth title in Ukraine last year in a personal best 7:53.56.

FACES STIFF CHALLENGE

In the women’s category, Jackline Kipkoech (9:10.12), the Africa silver medallist, will be competing against Africa gold medallist Berhane Demiesa (9:00.06) from Ethiopia.

They face stiff challenge from Japanese Nozomi Musembe (9:02.85) and German Alina Reh(9:05.18).

Africa silver medallist, Ian Mutuku, who represented Kenya at the 2013 World Youth, losing in the semi-finals but after clocking personal best 46.85 in the heats, will field in 400m heats at 3.45pm.

The heat has Africa champion Karabo Sibanda (46.77) from Botswana.

World Youth champion Jamaican Martin Manley (45.89) is in the first heat of the one-lap event that will feature three heats. The finals are on Saturday.

Kenya’s Agnes Mulee, who was outsprinted by the nippy Ethiopian Hawi Alemu for the gold at the Africa, will be eyeing revenge in the women’s 800m that gets under way with today’s heats.

Ngovi timed 2:08.00 with the Ethiopian clocking 2:06.74. However, the event is open considering other athletes who have good times.

They are Ghanaian Martha Bissah (2:06.32), who will be in the third heat with Alemu, Italian Elena Bellò, who is with Mulee in the second heat and Mareen Kalis (2:05.82) from Germany in the first heat.

The final is on Sunday.