Athletics: Kenyan athletes ready to take charge at World U-18

Third AK Meet in Thika 1.Gloria Mulei on her way to winning the women's junior long jump at the Third AK Meet at Thika stadium 2Second placed .Beriter Mwende makes a jump at the AK Thika Meet

Mulei prays for safe landing

Kwanthanze Secondary School student in uncharted waters as she eyes triple jump medal.

Gloria Mulei, who finished second in the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national games, hopes to hit the coveted price this time round.

Competing in triple and long jumps at the IAAF World U-18 Athletics Championships that begin tomorrow at Kasarani Stadium, Mulei knows it will not be an easy feat, but she is ready for the challenge.

Mulei believes her protracted training schedule at Kasarani since last December gives her some advantage over her opponents.

“Kasarani has been my base for months now. I have stepped up training in the two categories and for sure, it has not been easy, but I know I have improved tremendously,” she said.

Mulei is among three athletes - the other two being Musyoka Mwema and Vincent Kilel -who have been training in both triple and long jumps under head coach Carolyn Kola ahead of the global event.

“We had a lot of loose ends, which we thought would be necessary to tie up. It has been a long journey, but we are determined on walking to the end of it.

“We realised what was not working for us, but we worked on the issues under the supervision of our coaches,” Mulei explained.

Mulei, who is a Form Three student at Kwathanze Secondary School in Machakos, added that she worked on speed and robust strides while at the camp.

“I used to have a problem with my take-off in the jumps. Also mastering my steps was a tall order, but now things are in place after coach Kola helped me perfect the skills,” she said.

Mulei is glad to have hit the IAAF qualifying mark of 6.03m in long jump during the national trials at Nyayo Stadium.

“We had a mission with Kola to hit the mark before July and I am happy the programme we put in place has worked out. My dream now is to deliver a gold medal for Kenya at the World U-18 in this category,” Mulei said.

Apart from long and triple jumps, Mulei is also a budding 100m, 200m and 100m hurdle athlete.

“I decided to settle on triple and long jumps in the World U-18 after a lengthy advice from coach Kola. The coach knew where I would be more comfortable,” she said.

Mulei added that she discovered her athletics prowess after she was introduced to the discipline by her teacher when she was in Standard Five at Mutulu Primary School in Kitui.

Kola agreed that all her colleagues in her specialty are medal prospects.

Other than long and triple jump, Kola will also compete in high jump that also has Faith Kipsang and Evan Kipchirchir.

Kipsang, who is a Standard Eight pupil at Kapleting Primary School, said she is hopeful of repeating the same feat at the World U-18 that saw her settle for silver (2016) and gold (2017) at the national school games.