Here come 42km kings

By Omulo Okoth

Only three medalists returned home on Monday when the Kenyan team, who finished third overall, jetted back from the World Championships in Berlin on Monday.

Newly-crowned world marathon champion, Abel Kirui, silver medalist, Emmanuel Mutai and women’s 5,000m silver medalist, Silvia Kibet, and 17 other athletes were met at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by Sports Minister, Hellen Sambili, while 23 others, remained in Europe to compete in the lucrative Golden League and Grand Prix events. Ezekiel Kemboi, who won the 3,000m steeplechase gold and Paul Kipsiele Koech, who finished fourth, had returned last week.

The absence of the medalists – Linet Masai (10,000m gold), Vivian Cheruiyot (5,000m gold), Janeth Jepkosgei (800m silver), Alfred Kirwa Yego (800m silver), Richard Mateelong (3,000m SC silver), Moses Masai (10,000m bronze) and Milka Chemos (3,000m SC bronze) did not seem to dampen the spirit of family members and the public who thronged the airport to welcome them.

Gourds of mursik (traditional milk) and flowers met the heroes and heroines as drum beats and Administration Police band brought normal operations at the busy airport to a halt.

Marathoners Abel Kirui (left) won Gold and Emmanuel Mutai (silver) at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany. They arrived home Tuesday to a tumultuous welcome. [PHOTO: STAFFORD ONDEGO/STANDARD]

Kenya won 11 medals, four gold, five silver and two bronze. They finished third overall, behind United States and Jamaica (out of 213 nations) and were the top in Africa.

Police Commissioner Maj Gen Hussein Ali Mohamed and Administration Police Commandant, Kinuthia Mbugua were part of the team who welcomed the athletes.

Nine of the medallists are from the Police Department, while Abel Kirui, the newly-crowned world marathon champion, is from the AP department.

Swiss Air

A tight security cordon was thrown around the athletes, who jetted in by Swiss Air, led by Athletics Kenya chairman, Isaiah Kiplagat.

Also in the delegation from Berlin accompanying the team members from Berlin were assistant ministers Kabando wa Kabando (Sports), Joseph Nkaiserry (Defence), Permanent Secretary for Sport, James Waweru, among others.

The two top police officers’ presence at the airport naturally attracted a tight security operation from the arrival lounges right through immigration to the Simba Restaurant where a dinner was organised for the athletes. Sports Minister Hellen Sambili promised cash awards.

 

 

Read all about: Emmanuel Mutai Sports Minister Hellen Sambili

 

 

---