Nock honours top achievers
Glasgow Commonwealth Games 5,000m women gold medallist Mercy Cherono (left) receives a trophy from Kenya Pipeline Company Corporate Communication manager Jason Nyantino on June 5, 2015 during the National Olympics Committee of Kenya awards ceremony at Safari Park hotel, Nairobi. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- Apart from athletics, which had the lion share of awards, other sports including basketball, tennis, golf, netball and cycling were also feted.
- As expected, athletics hogs most of the limelight
- Mwangangi also won the 3,000m and 5,000m IAAF Diamond League and IAAF Continental Cup.
- NOCK chairman Kipchoge Keino said the body needs Sh300 million to cater for the expenses of the Kenyan team for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games men and women 5,000m champions Caleb Ndiku Mwangangi and Mercy Cherono led a field of athletes and other sports personalities who were feted during the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) 2014 Top Achievers gala held in Nairobi on Friday night.
A number of sports personalities, teams and coaches, who excelled in various sporting activities in 2014, were awarded trophies at the colourful event sponsored by Kenya Pipeline Company.
Apart from athletics, which had the lion share of awards, other sports including basketball, tennis, golf, netball and cycling were also feted.
Mwangangi was honoured for an impressive 2014 season in which he won a number of titles including the 3,000m World Indoor Championship, 5,000m African Championship in addition to scooping the national crown.
Mwangangi also won the 3,000m and 5,000m IAAF Diamond League and IAAF Continental Cup.
“This award is a token of appreciation for the sweat and hardwork I put in and I am glad my efforts have not gone in vain. This will motivate me to work harder in the coming championships,” the 22-year-old said while receiving his award
Mwangangi, who is preparing for the World Championships set to be held in Beijing, China in August, is targeting the World and Olympic crowns which are the titles he is yet to win.
STRONG CHALLENGE
He, however, noted the challenge posed by the Ethiopians and Briton Mo Farah.
Cherono, who is also preparing for the world championship and is targeting a podium finish in Beijing, also had an impressive 2014 crowning the year with the 5,000m African Championship and national titles.
“I am training hard and looking forward to Beijing where my aim is to make it to the podium and hopefull even get the gold, but a lot of hard work needs to be put in before then,” Cherono said.
Other athletes who were honoured included women 800m World and African champion Eunice Sum, Commonwealth javelin champion Julius Yego and Faith Chepng’etich the Commonwealth women 1,500m champion.
NOCK also honoured junior athletes who excelled at the African Youth Championships that were held in Botswana last year.
Benson Gicharu was feted for his achievements during the Commonwealth games where he won the country’s only medal in the event.
The late John Muya, a cyclist who was killed in a crash last year in Philippines was also honoured for being the highest placed Kenyan during the Commonwealth Games.
Other winners of the night were, tennis sensation Ismael Changawa, a bronze medallist at last year’s Youth Games as well as coaches Rose Naliaka and Patrick Waweru.
NOCK chairman Kipchoge Keino said the body needs Sh300 million to cater for the expenses of the Kenyan team for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
