HANDS UP FOR THE REAL WARRIORS: Yego, Bett to thrill fans in Olympics trials in Eldoret

Julius Yego of Kenya celebrates after winning gold at the men's javelin throw final during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing

For two days, all eyes will be glued to the new-look Kipchoge Keino Stadium, as Kenya's world-beating stars compete in track and field in the national Olympic trials.

At the action-packed stadium, politicians and sports officials, as well as the corporate world dignitaries, will take their place at the VIP stand.

It will be a day to behold too for the thousands of fans in the stands. On the track, a hum of loud scream from the field events arena will suddenly rent the air as the crowds break into wild cheers.

On the pitch, you will see world javelin champion Julius Kiplagat Yego on his knees screaming — his traditional cool down dose after a perfect throw.

The joy of that scream — the ecstatic feeling one gets after achieving the impossible, the sense of pride and emotion after a brilliant display— tells a lot about Yego's struggle to excel in a field event discipline, despite coming from a region endowed with track superstars.

"That's my trademark and I love it. I hope to treat my home fans with it," said Yego. Within a short time, probably another loud scream will emerge from the finish line where Nicholas Bett, the world 400m hurdles champion, will be screaming and punching the air –his new-found celebratory style.

Interestingly, Yego and Bett went down in history when they became Africa's first world champions in their respective events at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China, last year.

Yego, an alumni of Kapsabet Boys High School, is known to make history in every championship he competes in –from winning All Africa Games (2011), finalist at the London Olympics, fourth-place at the Moscow World Championships, winning the Commonwealth Games and winning the world championships with an African record of 92.72m.

The 27-year-old is a pioneer of javelin in a region where it has produced many track superstars. No Kenyan had ever won a field title – or even a medal – at the IAAF World Championships, but Yego, now sits on top of the world.

He has beaten Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott, world champion Vitezslav Vesley and European champion Antti Ruuskanen. But he will take on Nelson Yego, Alex Toroitich, Gilbert Bett and Fred Kogo in the trials.

Yego was second in Eugene (84.68m), seventh in Oslo (80.90m) and third in Stockholm in 83.09m.

Bett is remembered as having played a pivotal role with his elder brother Haroun Koech of leading Cheptil High School in Nandi County to East Africa Secondary Schools volleyball prowess between 2007 and 2010.

He has not performed well this season, finishing sixth in Shanghai in a season best time (49.1) and Oslo (49.85), eighth in Eugene (51.3) and fifth in Stockholm (51.14).

It remains to be seen whether Bett will rise from the ashes of dismal shows when he takes on his brother Haroun Koech, Boniface Mucheru, Kiprono Koskei, Vincent Koskei, Julius Rotich, Stephen Tenai and William Mbevi in 400m hurdles.

 

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