Kenya seeks to seal Rio Games' slot at continental championships

Kenya, who are the African Games 4x400m champions will be targeting to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games during the Africa Championships that get under way on Wednesday in Durban, South Africa.

Team Kenya’s departure for the continental championships was pushed from Monday to Tuesday due to flight connection problem from Johannesburg Durban.

“This is our last qualifying opportunity for Kenya after we failed to qualify from the World Relay Championships last year,” said head coach David Kitur who added that they have polished on the 4x400m team’s baton technique especially at change over.

The Kenyan team failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics after being disqualified at last year's World Relay Championships in Bahamas.

The flop in Bahamas locked out Kenya from last year’s World Championships which was the second qualifying event for Rio Games. A top eight finish at the World Championships guarantees a team a place at Olympics.

Kenya’s qualification now rests on the shoulders of the national 400m champion Alphas Kishoyian, national 400m hurdles champion Harun Koech, African Games 400m silver medallist Boniface Mweresa, Raymond Kibet, Stanley Kieti and Boniface Mucheru. The Rio Olympics 4x400m qualifying time is 3:00.00 minutes.

“We shall put our minds and efforts together to see who will be our best four picks,” said Kitur who is looking forward to a great performance from the sprinters.

Kishoyian, who represented Kenya in 400m at the World Championships where he lost in the heats, said he is ready to anchor Kenya to the Rio Games in the 4x400m.

BREAK NATIONAL RECORD

Kishoyan, who already has the Rio Olympic qualifying time, is also planning to break the 24-year-old national 400m record of 44.18 currently held by the late Samson Kitur, David Kitur’s brother.

“The record has stayed for long and Durban is the place that it should go…someone can bet on that,” said Kishoyian who has personal best and the second fastest time of 44.74.

The national 100m and 200m champion Mike Mokamba also plans to break Calvin Nkanata’s 200m national record time of 201.19.

“I plan to compete in 200m only since I have just recovered from a hamstring injury and 100m can aggravate muscle tension,” said Mokamba, who has personal best 20.38 in 200m.

National champions Margaret Nyairera (400m), Maureen Jelagat (400m hurdles) and Eunice Kadogo (100m, 200) have also vowed to win the continental titles with personal best times.

“I want to go below my national record time of 51.30,” said Nyairera, who will only participate in 400m in Durban.

“I will be using the 400m to polish my speed for Olympics trials in 800m,” said Nyairera.

Jelagat, who represented Kenya in 400m at the 2013 and 2015 world Championships will be trying to attain the Olympic qualifying time of 56.20 in 400m hurdles.

“I have moved to hurdles since I have better chances of making to the final than the 400m flat,” said Jelagat. “I fail to get the time then I will compete in 400m flat at the Olympic trials.”