Imali to highlight seventh leg of AK meeting in Thika
Maximilla Imali crosses the finish line to win the 400m women's final during the National Athletics Championship on June 10, 2017 at Nyayo Stadium. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- Also headed for Thika is World Under-18 1,500m champion George Manang’oi, who is fresh from finishing second in 1,500m in Doha on May 5.
- Manangoi chalked personal best 3:35.53 to finish second behind Ethiopian Taresa Tolosa in men’s 1,500m in Doha.
National 400m champion and record holder, Maximilla Imali, will highlight the seventh leg of Athletics Kenya Track and Field meeting starting Friday at Thika Stadium.
Athletics Kenya Central region chairman David Miano said Imali, who reached women’s 400 metres final at Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, is part of the huge field expected in Thika , which will mark the final leg of the series.
“We expect a large turnout, considering that the sixth leg due in Kericho last weekend was cancelled after the rains rendered the Green Stadium track unusable,” said Miano.
It will be Imali’s first race since finishing fifth in women’s 400m final at the “Club Games” last month in Australia.
The-22-year-old said she hopes to lower her personal best of 51.18 seconds to sub-50 seconds this year, besides winning the Africa title at the continental championships in August 1 to 5 in Assaba, Nigeria.
“I really wanted to win a medal in Gold Coast but I think my focus and preparations wasn’t 100 per cent since I had just completed my course at the Kenya Police Training College,” said Imali, who hopes to make a Diamond League debut in Rome on May 31.
“I want to lower my PB, hopefully in Rome. My body has picked well and I look forward to a great season,” said Imali, who has been doing her speed work at Chepkoilel, Eldoret, under coach Peter Gatana.
Imali said it’s also her dream to win the Africa title and make Africa team for the IAAF Continental Cup (World Cup) due September 8-9 next year in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
Imali, who also represented Kenya at the 2017 London World Championships, will compete in 200m and 400m races in Thika where she faces her compatriots from Police of Millicent Ndoro, Veronica Mutua and Gladys Musyoki.
Also headed for Thika is World Under-18 1,500m champion George Manang’oi, who is fresh from finishing second in 1,500m in Doha on May 5.
Manangoi chalked personal best 3:35.53 to finish second behind Ethiopian Taresa Tolosa in men’s 1,500m in Doha.
