‘You Tube’ man Yego heads and shoulders above javelin field

What you need to know:

  • He is the only one among the six javelin throwers invited for the national trials who has have achieved the 82-metre qualifying mark.

Africa and Kenya javelin record-holder Julius Yego is the country’s best shot in the field events at the World Championships.

He is the only one among the six javelin throwers invited for the national trials who has have achieved the 82-metre qualifying mark.

The self-made Yego, who picked up training tips from YouTube posts, set the continental and national records when he threw 91.39m during the Birmingham leg of the Diamond League on June 7.

Alex Kiprotich, who has thrown 72.89m, stands a good chance of joining Yego for Beijing if he can put extra effort during the trials. The other four; Michael Rono 68.37m, Sammy Keskeny 68.36, Nelson Yegon 68.05 and Fred Kogo 65.25 will be fighting for slots in the African Games teams because the qualifying mark is 69 metres.

None of the five men invited to take part in triple jump has hit the Worlds mark of 16.90m. In fact, it is only Elijah Kimitei (16.36) who has come near that mark. The others, Kiplagat Ruto (15.93), Isaac Kirwa (15.69), Jockthan Kiyegon (15.58) and Geoffrey Leitich (15:09) will be battling to reach 16m to meet the African Games qualifying mark.

In high jump, Mathew Sawe needs to go better by 0.04 in his current mark of 2.24m to qualify for the World Championships. The Beijing games’ qualifying mark is 2.28m.

Nicanor Cheruiyot (2.10), Amos Kipsaina (1.95), Sammy Koech 1.95 and Samuel Macharia 1.95 should be eyeing the AAG high jump slots. AAG qualifying mark is 2.12m.