Youths’ battle hots up as Kenyans make it to final and semis of global contest

BY JONATHAN KOMEN

Kenya’s youth charges will use Thursday’s races to test the opposition.

And one lithe runner is certain to attract more than a casual glance as he takes the fight to British and Russian empires at the RSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium at noon.

Africa Youth 800m and 1,500m champion, Robert Kiptoo Biwott, will head to round one battle at 12.20pm as favourite against Britain’s Kyle Langford and Russia’s Konstantin Tolokonnikov.

The shy-looking Biwott, who struck a rare double at the inaugural Africa Youth Athletics Championships in Warri, Nigeria, early this year, is certain to blaze the trail.

Biwott, a Form Four student at Athinai Secondary in Rongai, will join Titus Kipruto Kipyego, who is the only other athlete in the race to have run sub-3:40 in 1,500m this year.

So is the case in 2,000m steeplechase and 3,000m as Kenya boasts the fastest entrants, ahead of Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, Ian Mutuku won 400m heat three round in a personal best time of 46.85 seconds on Wednesday, pushing Australia’s Samuel Baird (46.97), Japan’s Kakeru Yamaki (46.99) and Sri Lanka’s Warren Hazel (47.23) into posting new all-time bests.

Alex Sampao, who a Form Two Student at Nakuru’s Kirobon Boys where team manager Barbnabas Kitilit is the principal, finished fourth in heat one in 47.94, qualifying into semi-finals as the fastest loser. Sampao and Mutuku, a Form Two Student at Mamba Secondary in Machakos, will line up in semi finals at 5.25pm today.

Kenya’s sole contender in 1,500m Iveen Chepkemoi sailed into the final set for Saturday (7.20pm).

Chepkemoi, a pupil at Kericho’s Kiptere Secondary, qualified with second best time and a personal best 4:17.81 behind Dawit Seyaum (4:14.40).

Ethiopia’s Tigist Gashaw (4:18.55) and Japanese Maki Dietz (4:20.68) followed.

Chepkemoi will be longing to retain the title in which Faith Chepng’etich Kipyegon won in Lille, France, in 2011 in a championships record.

National Secondary Schools 800m champion, Jarinter Mawia, who is the team captain, is out to reclaim 800m crown in which Cherono Koech won in Bressanone, Italy, in 2009 as she begins bid at 11.30am.

Mawia, a Form Four student at Nthukula Secondary in Makueni, said: “We’ll do our best to reclaim the title we lost to USA in France. We’ve trained well, just pray for us.”

Thursday’s highlights

09:35am Boys 3,000m heats Vedic Kipkoech and Alexander Mutiso

11.30am Girls 800m heats Jarinter Mawia

12.20 pm Boys 1,500m semi final