Julius Yego focuses on writing history at World Championships

By Erick Ochieng’

Nairobi, Kenya: Olympics finalist and Africa javelin Champion Julius Yego has his plans set ahead of the 14th IAAF World Championships, which will be held in Moscow from August 4.

Yego, who will become the first javelin thrower to debut for Kenya at the World Championships, is relishing the challenge ahead after breaking the jinx at the London Olympics last year.

 Yego’s master plan, after the trials held last weekend in Nairobi, is now to strive and reach the finals before fighting for the medals.

“I plan to take each stage at a time. For me to do this I have designed a personal training schedule that will help me gain skills and techniques on top of the fitness that I already have,” said Yego.

He was the first athlete to report to training camp at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani Wednesday.

Ten more athletes were expected to join the camp last evening. Serious training for the 49 athletes, who will be competing for Kenya in Moscow, will begin today.

Yego has appealed to Athletics Kenya (AK) — which has already named coaches for Team Kenya camps at Kasarani and in Eldoret — to avail him a personal non-traveling coach to help him realise his goal in Moscow.

He joked that he might be the only athlete, who might not have a coach while preparing for the global track and field competition. He said he will still rely heavily on YouTube to gauge his throws.

To take his preparations to the next level, Yego plans to vary his techniques and training skills. He now wants to train twice or three times a day.

The fact that he has competed in less championships this year is a great encouragement to him ahead of Moscow World Championships,  as he is not worn out.

“I didn’t want to burn out. It’s the reason I have competed only in one Diamond League (Shanghai, 78.54m) this year so as to preserve my energy,” said the Orange brand ambassador, who early this year was documented by CNN.

Yego said he took a three day off from training after successfully competing in the trials that were held at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday to reflect on the personal best of 82.09 metres that he recorded. Yego, born in Cheptonon in Tinderet, travelled to Eldoret to relax with his family and give thanks to God following his cherished results.

“I was stunned! I couldn’t believe I had scored that mark. It is my personal best for now and that is a great encouragement to what I plan to do in Russia where I am aiming for the 85 metre,” he said.

Yego now feels refreshed and ready to take his training to another level.

However, being the only field athlete in the Kenya delegation is frustrating him. His two colleagues who were eyeing the qualifying mark, Alex Kiprotich (71m) and Fred Kogo (65m) failed to make the team to Moscow.