Winning starts for Taki, Kosgei in Colombia Games

Kipyegon Bett wins 800m during the Africa Youth Championship national trials at Nyayo Stadium on April 1, 2015.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

It was business as usual for Kenyan athletes as the ninth IAAF World Youth Championships got underway yesterday at the Pascqual Querrero Stadium in Cali, Colombia.

Kumari Taki led from gun to tape in a time of 3:48.45 to win in the second 1500m heat, while his counterpart Lawi Kosgei (3:53.87) was second behind Ethiopian Mulugeta Assefa (3:52.97) in the first qualifying race.

Unlike the first heat, where the first 800m was run in 2:11.40, the second qualifying race proved a faster affair, as Taki went through the first 800m in 2:04.54.

Welde Tufa of Ethiopia was second in a time of 3:49.71, while Amine Bouazizi of Tunisia was third in 3:52.02. Algeria’s Mohammed Bouaziza (3:52.03) recorded a personal best in fourth position. The Kenyan duo’s conquest was enough to see them through to tomorrow’s  (03:25am) final.

Meanwhile, former Kenyan world marathon record holder and Olympic bronze medallist Wilson Kipsang is not planning to run another competitive race, but is focused on reclaiming the world title for Kenya in Beijing next month.

The 33-year-old two-time London marathon winner says he has not been in the best of shape possible in his five recent races.

He was beaten to second place by compatriot Eliud Kipchoge at the London marathon in April, and finished fourth and fifth respectively in two half-marathon races in New York and the Czech Republic last month.

“It has been a very busy year for me so far,” said Kipsang, who is one of the star athletes to participate in an ongoing 836 kilometre “walk for peace” relay, organised by former Commonwealth champion John Kelai. The 22-day march, aimed to raise awareness to help end ethnic violence in northern Kenya, started in the semi-arid Rift Valley town of Lodwar yesterday.

“Since my last race in Olomouc, I have been recovering from all these races. I am now getting ready for the upcoming world championships in Beijing.

“The conditions in Beijing are going to be very tough because of the heat and the humidity. That’s why I have started training in similar conditions to get used to this type of climate.

“One of the few things that are lacking in my career is a medal at the world championships. This is why my focus is now completely on becoming a world marathon champion. I dream of reclaiming the title for Kenya.”