Jelimo in strange territory at AK meet
What you need to know:
- World and Olympic 800m champ sixth in 200m race where she sought to test her speed
World and Olympic 800m champion Pamela Jelimo was the main attraction at the National Bank of Kenya-sponsored fifth weekend athletics meeting at the Shanzu Teachers Training College in Mombasa, on Friday.
Running in an unfamiliar 200m race, Jelimo finished a distant fourth in heat one, clocking 27.7secs in a fast-paced race won by Ugandan Angeline Aneno in 25.9secs.
The police officer, however, managed to qualify for the final with the fifth best time, finishing sixth in the overall standing.
Jelimo, who was also due to run in the 400m race, skipped her speciality (the 800m race), saying she was still not ready to race in the event.
“I am here to test my speed to make myself competitive, that is why I have come specifically for the 200m and 400m races before I can finally venture in my speciality”, Jelimo said.
Athletics Kenya blamed
She, however, took issue with Athletics Kenya for failing to follow the programme they drew after replacing the timing for 400m with the 200m race.
“We had planned to run the 400m and even warmed up thoroughly just to be told that the event would come later and that we should step into the track for the 200m race,” she lamented.
Others who qualified for the finals were Millicent Ndoro, Marline Chelangat and Joy Safari, all of the Kenya Police and Marcella Nyaboke of Kenya Prisons.
Jane Mwikali of Kenya Prisons clocked 2:16.3secs to win the 800m race, followed by Jedida Wanjiru of Nyeri in 2;16.6secs and Perine Nengambi of Moi Air Base in 2:17.5secs, while Colleta Chepchirchir also of Moi Air Base finished fourth in 2:18.2secs.
Robert Kerubo of Kenya Power and Lighting won the Hammer with a throw of 39.78m. Everlyne Bosibori of Kenya Prisons was second with 39.54m, while Esther Akinyi was third with a throw of 36.40m.
In another development, Athletics Kenya has lined up several activities at Ronald Ngala Primary school to mark the World Athletics Day on Saturday.
The event will also include tree planting in four primary schools and other social activities.
