Women’s 800m set for generational change: Jepkosgei makes final stab at the 'Club' Games

From left; Agatha Cheruto, Sylvia Chesebe, Eunice Sum, Janeth Jepkosgei during the 800m women final at the Athletics Kenya National Championship at Nyayo Stadium on 7-06-2014.DENNIS OKEYO

The women’s 800m contest will mark Kenya’s generational change in the two-lap race at Hampden Park Stadium this afternoon.

The women’s 800m round one duel scheduled for 2:30pm, sets the unofficial stage for 2006 Commonwealth Games 800m champion Janeth Jepkosgei to hand over the two-lap race to world 800m champion Eunice Sum and the new crop of athletes.

Jepkosgei, who pulled out of the Moscow Worlds over injury, will line up with two of her understudies in the bid to retain Nancy Jebet Lagat’s title.

She will team up with Sum and Agatha Jeruto, who was in the 4x800m team to the IAAF World Relay Championships in Nassau, Bahamas, in May.

The athlete, an alumnus of Sing’ore Girls High in Keiyo North, said: “Eunice (Sum) and Agatha are my athletics daughters and I am happy to represent Kenya with them in my last competition. It will be good if we appear in the podium. This is my last Commonwealth Games.”

Jepkosgei, who won silver (2009) and bronze (2011) at the World Championships, has been in the 800m for the last decade and feels great challenge from upcoming athletes.

“It has been more than a decade since I competed in the 800m and I feel the great challenge from upcoming athletes. The young athletes motivate me a lot,” said Jepkosgei, who had a dream of becoming a nurse.

Jepkosgei, who has a personal best time of 1:56.04 and a season best mark of 1:58.70 she ran in Monaco, said: “They are my athletics daughters and I am always happy to train with them since they are good partners. We help each other most times.”

Sum, who was introduced into athletics by Jepkosgei, has defied the odds to beat her mentor in the two-lap race in many races.

Sum, who is a cousin of 2007 world 800m champion Alfred Yego Kirwa, said they bank on Jepkosgei’s vast experience when competing in big races.

“I am happy that I am competing with her here. She gave me her blessings in Moscow and I made it.

She has really inspired me,” said Sum
Sum, who attended Brother Colm O’ Connell holiday training programme in 2007, went on: “I am ready for the battle but I feel the pressure as a world champion.

The weather keep changing but we will adjust it.” She basks in a 1:57.38 best mark she posted while winning the world championships in Moscow and a 1:57.92 season best set in Monaco two weeks ago.

Agatha Jeruto, who made the national team to 2011 World Youth in Lille France, has a 2:00.95 time set in Oslo last month.