Kenya’s squad to the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships arrived in Beijing, China, yesterday for the nine-day riveting action that kicks off on Saturday.
The 48-member squad will seek to improve on the 2013 Moscow performance where Kenya finished fourth with 12 medals (five gold, four silver and three bronze) –where 206 countries participated.
Kenya fell behind hosts and winners Russia who collected 17 medals (seven gold, four silver and six bronze), USA 25 medals (six gold, 13 silver and six bronze) and Jamaica nine medals (six gold, two silver and a bronze).
The marathon women team that comprises two-time world champion Edna Kiplagat, Visiline Jepkesho and Helah Kirop will leave on Monday to compete on the final day of competition on August 30.
Head coach Julius Kirwa said: “We have moulded them (athletes), sharpened the areas of weakness and I now give them the green light to conquer the world. This is a good team and I am certain that we will do well,” said Kirwa.
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National head coach Mike Kosgei said the trend has been changing in the manner in which athletes approach championships lately.
“Nowadays, an athlete must have at least four options to stand the chances in championships. The athletes had short time in camp, the 10 days they had were not enough. But they must switch their tactics to beat Moroccans and Ethiopians who are coming out so strongly,” said Kosgei.
“The men 3,000m steeplechase race has been a Kenyan traditional medal sweep. But not nowadays as other countries have come up to challenge us. Evan Jager (the North American steeplechase record holder who stunned the world before he took a fall in the final barrier at the IAAF Diamond League Meeting in Paris) could pull a surprise. They must be cautious,” said Kosgei.
Sprints coach Stephen Mwaniki said he expects an improved performance from the 10 sprinters in the team.
“I have not monitored them (sprinters) since the trials. Their fitness in the trials was very good and I expect at least some of them to make it to the semi-finals, which should be a good achievement. We are slowly turning into a sprinting nation,” said Mwaniki.
The team, however, shares a cocktail of similarities as they head to a familiar hunting ground.
Of them, six athletes –Asbel Kiprop (1,500m), Ezekiel Kemboi and Brimin Kipruto (3,000m steeplechase), Viola Kibiwott, Janeth Jepkosgei (800m) and Edwin Soi (5,000m) – are returning to the iconic Birds Nest Stadium in Beijing, China, where they competed at the 2008 Olympics.
