Kenyans start chase for medals in Mauritius

**Vincent Kipyego competes in 2000m steeplechase during the AFrica Youth Championship national trials at Nyayo Stadium on April 1, 2015.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO**

Kenya’s quest for medals starts today as the second Africa Athletics Youth Championship starts in Mauritius.

The biennial event which has attracted over 350 athletes aged between 15 to 17 years will run from April 23-16 with Kenya’s 22 athletes taking part.

Damaris Akoth of Nyota Secondary school in Kisii Country and Aaron Kimutai starts the action for Kenya’s contingent athletes in both girls and boys 100m sprint preliminary rounds.

In the girls’ 100m, Akoth expects a strong challenge from South Africa’s Nicola De Bruyn and Nigeria’s duo of Abolaji Omotayo and Aniekeme Alphonsus.

Aaron Kimutai carries the country’s flag in 100m boys, and will be hoping he shakes-off Nigeria’s Idjesa Uruemu (10.6) and Tlotuso Leotlela of South Africa to book a place in the finals tomorrow.

In the other first round event of day at the championship Betty Chepkemoi will be fighting a lone battle for Kenya in the 800m.

In the 1,500m preliminaries, medal prospects of Brimin Kipruto (not to be confused with former Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion) and Kimaru Tarus who ran 3:43.6 at the Nyayo National Stadium to qualify for competition will be taking on their arch-rivals Ethiopia and stubborn neighbours Uganda.

The duo are expected to challenge for the medals tomorrow if they make it the finals.

Lone ranger Josphat Ng’eno hopes to cruise to the semi-finals of the 400m boys’ category.

Team Kenya is expected to stage an excellent show with hopes of scaling up their performance at the inaugural Youth Championship in Warri, Nigeria in 2013 where it collected five gold, four silver and a bronze medal which ensured they managed a fourth overall position.

The team is coached by Paul Kipkemboi and Esther Kavaya, the younger sister to the Harambee Stars football legend Joe Kadege.

Elsewhere, preliminary entry figures show that 1,424 athletes from 156 countries are set to compete at the IAAF World Youth Championships, Cali 2015, making it the biggest international athletics event to be held in South America.