Kenyan youngsters leave for World Championships

World Youth champions Vincent Kipyegon, Kumari Taki and Willy Tarbei can’t wait to graduate in style with victories at the World Junior Championships starting on Tuesday in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

The team leaves for Poland on Sunday. Kipyego, who won the Africa Youth 2,000m steeplechase title after clocking 5:37.05 in Mauritius in April last year, scaled a step higher with victory over the same distance in 5:27.58 at the World Youth Championships in July the same year.

Taki was also in sublime form at the Africa Youth event, winning the 1,500m race 3:44.35. He also conquered the field at the World Youth Championship in a record time of 3:36.38 before winning the Commonwealth Youth 1,500m title in a Games Record time of 3:39.80 in Apia, Samoa.

Tarbei won the World Youth 800m crown in 1:45.58 before gliding to a Games Record time of 1:46.05 at the Commonwealth Youth Games.

World Youth 2,000m steeplechase champion Celphine Chespol also exuded confidence at the Nyayo National Stadium as the team went through their final paces ahead of their departure today at 7.30pm.

Their trip was delayed by a day because the Polish Embassy had declined to issue visas to the Kenyan contingent, forcing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene. The team of 24 athletes and five officials was finally issued with visas on Friday.

“I am after a smooth graph to stardom. I don’t want another colour in my collection apart from that gold. That is why I want to win in Poland then graduate to senior ranks in style next year with Africa Junior 3,000m steeplechase victory next year,” said Kipyegon, who will team up with Amos Kirui.

“That is my prayer and I thank God for keeping me healthy,” he added.

Taki said he would strategise for the final after the qualifying rounds. “I want to gauge the rest then plan for the final,” said Taki, who wants to end his season with victory in Poland.

“This is my last junior race and I want to storm the senior ranks next season in style. We are aware of the challenge from Ethiopia, Eritrea and Brazil,” said Taki, who will team up with Edwin Kiptoo.

“I will be the person to beat at the event and I am praying to God speed. But I have to be careful at the qualifying rounds since anything can happen,” he added.

Chespol said: “We have worked hard in training and I hope victory would come easily.”

CHEBET IN ACTION

World Youth 2,000m steeplechase silver medallist Sandra Chebet hopes for victory in the 3,000m race. Team manager Joseph Ilovi said the juniors are ready for the battle as he projected a maximum of eight gold medals from his team.

Kenya won 16 medals; four gold, five silver and seven bronze in the last 2014 Championships held in USA.
The only time Kenya won the overall title was during the 2010 Championships in Moncton, Canada where they collected 15 medals; seven gold, four silver and four bronze medals, beating USA to second with 6-6-3.