Glory-hunting Kishoyian switches to 800m running

Kenya 400m champion Alphas Kishoyian has shifted gears to 800m.

Kishoyian, the 2011 World Under-18 400m silver medallist will compete in his second 800m race during the sixth Athletics Kenya Track and Field meeting starting on Friday at Mbaraki Sports Club, Mombasa.

The 23-year-old Kishoyian competed for the first time in the two-lap race at the fifth Athletics Kenya Track and Field meet at Mumias Sugar Sports Complex last weekend, clocking 1:52.00 in the heats.

But why has Kishoyian, who has represented Kenya in 400m for the last eight years, switched to 800m?

“While it was a personal decision, my coach (Ben Ouma) was also the force behind it,” said Kishoyian adding that the 400m race has been too technical and lack of facilities and support had made things tough for him.

Kishoyian, who represented Kenya at the 2015 Beijing World Championships and 2016 Rio Olympic Games in 400m, believes that the 800m race has more opportunities and is "easy to prepare" unlike the one-lap race. “The 400m race wasn’t just about speed, every distance needs a different approach,” explained Kishoyian, stating that he had ably represented Kenya in youth and junior level and performed well locally as a senior.

“But I have not excelled in 400m as a senior at the international level hence my decision to switch to the 800m,” said Kishoyian, who won silver in 4x400 Metres Relay and bronze in 400m during the 2011 Africa Under-20 Championships.

“I have had enough in 400m and this is the right time to try new challenges,” said Kishoyian, who went on to claim silver in 400m at the 2011 World Under-18 Championships before finishing sixth in 400m at the 2012 World Under-20 Championships.

ENDURANCE

Kishoyian believes his coach has the right credentials produce the best from him, having coached the likes of World 1,500m champion Elijah Manangoi.

“I just realised that Kishoyian is more of an endurance athlete than a sprinter. His muscle composition are unique for a middle distance runner,” said Ouma.

“If all goes well, 2020 should be his year in the two-lap race. We shall continue working on his endurance and long-distance speed,” said Ouma.

At the same time, sprinter Millicent Ndoro, winner of 100m and 200m in Kisumu and Kisii, hopes to pick up from where she left at the sixth Athletics Kenya Track and Field championships in Mombasa.

It will be Ndoro’s first race since returning from the Commonwealth Games where she reached the semi-finals.

Ndoro, 31, hopes to get the right momentum ahead of the Africa Championships trials due July.

Ndoro is seeking her fourth appearance at the continental championships set for Assaba, Nigeria in August.