Let’s inspire our under-18 heroes and heroines to higher pedestal
Kenya's Jackline Wambui (right) leads compatriot Lydia Jeruto in celebrating at the end of the girls 800m during the World Under 18 Championships on July 16, 2017 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- In my opinion, the products of the World Under-18 Championships and a few upcoming runners should be our priority right now because they represent the future.
- Athletes like Moraa and Ndigiti, to mention but a few, need specialised training considering the special areas they are involved in.
- As AK, it’s time we took sprints and field events seriously and engaged our partners for exchange programmes in various areas.
How I wish our heroes and heroines from the 2017 World Under-18 Championships in Nairobi can take their game to the next level as we prepare for the World Under-20 Championships next month in Tempere, Finland.
Our focus now is on the national Under-20 trials, which will be held on Monday and Tuesday in Nairobi.
Yes, I am looking forward to seeing the very youths, who made us proud during the World Under-18 show, spin it once more for the whole world to see and feel Kenya’s athletics prowess.
I actually want to see the World Under-18 Championships gold medallists George Manangoi (1,500m), Leonard Bett (2,000m Steeplechase), Jackline Wambui (800m) and Karen Chebet (2,000m steeplechase) lead from the front.
BACK-TO-BACK
I also want the likes of Mary Moraa (400m silver), Dominic Ndigiti (10,000m walk bronze), Japhet Kibet (800m bronze) and Edna Jebitok (1,500m bronze) pick from where they left as they seek to make Kenya great again.
Kenyans must count themselves lucky because with the Under-18 and Under-20 events coming back-to-back, they have an opportunity to build a generation as they look forward to 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Already, the likes of Edward Zakayo, who is a Form Three student at Kapsait have already punched above their weight by winning Commonwealth Games 5,000m silver, clocking 13 minutes, 54.06 seconds.
This was no doubt inspired by a silver he won in 3,000m during the world under-18 show in Nairobi. It is actually interesting to see such young men taking the mantle especially with the exit of the likes of Geoffrey Kamworor and Bedan Karoki from the track to the road.
However, the young men will need a lot of guidance especially during this era where everyone wants to take the shortest route to success through drugs.
To our youth we say NO to doping!
SPECIALISED TRAINING
In my opinion, the products of the World Under-18 Championships and a few upcoming runners should be our priority right now because they represent the future.
Athletes like Moraa and Ndigiti, to mention but a few, need specialised training considering the special areas they are involved in.
As AK, it’s time we took sprints and field events seriously and engaged our partners for exchange programmes in various areas.
