By Mutwiri Mutuota
In late 1960s through to early 1990s Kenya produced pedigree athletes in the men’s 400m and 4X400m relay.
The hailed 4X400m relay quartet of Charles Asati, Robert Ouko, Julius Sang and Hezahiah Nyamau won Olympic gold (1972) a feat unmatched by compatriots since.
Then came a crop that included the late Samson Kitur, Kennedy Ochieng, Simon Kemboi and Abednego Matilu that won silver at 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart
Kitur, who died in 2003 aged 37, also won 400m Olympic (1992) and world bronze (1993) in addition to the Africa (1990) and All Africa Games (1991 and 1995) titles.
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Ezra Sambu who won Africa silver (2004) and All Africa gold (2003) remains the country’s last male athlete to win a senior 400m medal.
400m prospect
Powerfully built but soft-spoken, University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) pharmacy student, Anderson Mureta is touted as a bright 400m prospect and possible anchor of a good 4X400m relay team.
"I’m going to make it (Berlin). I will stay here and train for the trials. Running 400m is my talent since I was young and I intend to compete at the highest level," the former Ikuu Boys High School student in Chuka told FeverPitch.
As a freshman (first year) student at UTEP, Mureta finished fifth in 400m at the indoor C-USA Championships in March last year before winning silver at the outdoor competition of the same event where he ran his 46:81 season’s best in May.
At the Don Kirby Invitational the same month, Mureta clocked 21.04 for third place over 200m after running 21.31 at UTEP Invitational.
Gold medallist
As a Form Four student in 2006, Mureta timed 21.78 to finish second to Sambu at the National Championships 200m men’s final before he won the title this year with a dash of 21.49.
"He came up last year with 21.3 in 200m that has improved to 20.82 this year.
"He was introduced to 400m where his coach feels it’s his best event," former Olympic gold medallist and UTEP cross-country coach, Paul Ereng told FeverPitch.
"He has big enormous potential and by 2012, he could be running low 44s or high 43s if he stays focused," Ereng who facilitated his move to America added.
Born in Chuka, Meru on May 1, 1987, Mureta joined Kenya Police team briefly in 2007 after completion of high school education before taking his flight to UTEP.
