Triumphant Kenyan juniors jet back from Poland

World Under-20 Championships men's 10,000m gold medallist Rogers Kwemoi (top) is carried shoulder high by friends and relatives at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on July 26, 2016 upon arrival from from Poland. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Kenya finished second in the championship medal standings behind USA.
  • The Kenyan juniors bagged nine medals; five gold, two silver and an equal number of bronze.

Song, dance and excitement filled the air as the triumphant Kenyan junior athletics team jetted back on Tuesday from the World Under-20 Championships held in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

The team touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at around 10.15 am and when they emerged 45 minutes later, they received a rapturous welcome from brimming relatives, Athletics Kenya officials, friends and traditional dancers.

From the drum beats to the traditional songs, the golden team were handed Mursik (a Kalenjin fermented milk) as a befitting reward for their heroics. At hand to receive them was Athletics Kenya president Maj. Rtd Jackson Tuwei.

SECOND ON THE TABLE

Kenya finished second in the championship medal standings behind USA, bagging nine medals; five gold, two silver and an equal number of bronze.

Gold medallists Rodgers Kwemoi (10,000m, men), Amos Kirui (3,000m steeplechase, men), Cellphine Chespol (3,000m steeplechase, women), Kumari Taki (1,500m, men) and Bett Kipyegon (800m,men) were all ecstatic of their conquests.

Emmaculate Chepkirui (5,000m, women) and Willy Kiplimo Tarbei (800m, men) bagged silver while Antony Kiptoo and Wesley Ledama bagged bronze each in the men’s 1,500m and 5,000m respectively.

“It was a good race and I feel good that I won. I think with the performance I had, I can step up to the seniors. But I have to work hard," Kwemoi, who is based in Japan, said adding that his eyes are now trained on the 2020 Olympics.

“This is just the beginning and I believe moving to Japan helped me a great deal.”

For his part, Kirui told reporters that his aim is to emulate the 2004 and 2012 Olympic steeplechase champion, Ezekiel Kemboi, whom he considers a role model.

"I have a lot of admiration for him (Ezekiel Kemboi) and I hope to learn, step up and replace him in the future,” said Kirui.

Kirui said that his next frontier is to conquer the World Cross Country championship set for Uganda in March next year noting that dedication, hard work and divine intervention inspired his impressive performances in Bydgoszcz.

Kirui’s coach, Charles Ngau said that he will do all it takes to ensure that the 3,000m steeplechase gold winner impresses in next year’s Cross country Championship.

A shy school-going Cellphine Chespol, who also floored her opponents to hand Kenya gold in 3,000m steeplechase in 9 minutes and 25.15 seconds, said that good training programme aided her success.

"The coach’s tactics and good training programme was behind my success,” the 17-year-old Riruta Central, Nairobi student, who is the World Under-18 2,000m steeplechase champion, said.

Kumari Taki, who was raised shoulder high by relatives and friends, was more forthright. “I had to dive at the tape to beat my Ethiopian opponent (Taresa Tolosa) because I wanted this thing (gold medal). I'm more inspired and my target is, of course, the 2020 Olympics."

At the same time, Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario said that the government will reward the athletes for their fine performance. “A gold medal is a gold medal. We will reward them,” says Wario.
Gold medallists will get Sh1 million, silver medallists Sh750,000 and bronze winners will go home with Sh500, 000.