Explosive showdown looms at KDF Championships

Mike Mokamba (left) and Alfas Kishoyan (976) react after their 200m semi-final race during the Kenya Defence Force Athletics Championship on April 28, 2016 at Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Kishioyan, Mweresa also win respective semi-final races
  • National 200m champion Mike Mokamba has vowed to take a shot at the national record.
  • Mokamba’s father Elkana Nyangau, who apparently is his coach, set the record during the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
  • Kishioyan, with personal best 44.75, has hinted of breaking the 400m national record before the Rio Olympics trials due June 14 to 15 in Eldoret.
  • Simon Kitur holds the national record of 44.18 from 1992 Olympics.

An explosive showdown looms as the Kenya Defence Forces Athletics Championships end on Friday.

National 200m champion Mike Mokamba has vowed to take a shot at the national record.

Mokamba, who holds the national 100m record of 10.23 seconds, a feat he achieved last year when he broke Tom Musinde’s time of 10.26, eased to victory in the 200m and 100m semi-finals.

National champion Alphas Kishioyan, who represented Kenya at the World Championships in Beijing last year, and African Games 400m silver medallist Boniface Mweresa also won their respective semi-final races to set up a mouth-watering final on Friday.

Armed with personal best of 20.48 set last year during the trials for the World Championships, Mokamba is targeting to break Calvin Nkanata’s national record of 20.14 set in April 2015 in the USA. 

Mokamba, 21, clocked 21.56 to win his heat, beating Kishioyan to second place in 21.66 as Peter Makuba came third in 21.92 to qualify for the 200m final. Charles Wamwea timed 21.38 to win the second semi-final, beating Gilbert Osure 21.44 and Kipkemboi Soi 21.45.

“I not only want to attempt the national record but also improve my father’s best 20.30 that stood as a national record for sometimes,” said Mokamba.

Mokamba’s father Elkana Nyangau, who apparently is his coach, set the record during the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. “I have greatly improved on my starts and what is remaining is to polish with quick finish over the rest of the distance,” said Mokamba, who had earlier won his 100m semi-final in 10.57, beating Wamwea and Osure in 10.77 and 10.81 respectively. 

BETTER 100M TIME

Mokamba intends to better his time in 100m at the Africa Athletics Championships due for June 22-26 in Durban, South Africa and qualify for the Rio Olympic Games.

“I have the 200m time already but I want to also make it in 100m,” said Mokamba.

Carl Lewis Awange won the second semi in 10.87, beating Musinde and Emmanuel Letukunye who timed 10.86 and 10.88 respectively.

Kishioyan and Mweresa, who clocked 46.77 and 47.16 to win their respective semi-finals have qualified for Rio Olympics but today’s clash should just affirm, who is the best.

Kishioyan, with personal best 44.75, has hinted of breaking the 400m national record before the Rio Olympics trials due June 14 to 15 in Eldoret. Simon Kitur holds the national record of 44.18 from 1992 Olympics.