Shot Put ace Oburu aims to improve PB personal best at AK meet

Linda Kageha participating in shortput World Athletics U20 Championships at the Moi International Sports Complex on August 20, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The first Athletics Kenya Track and Field Meet begins today at Nyayo Stadium.

The championships has attracted 400 athletes as they seek to gauge their shape ahead of international events lined up this season.

Among the contestants is Kenya Defence Forces shot put ace Belinda Oburu, who will be chasing new personal best. She has a 13.49m throw.

“Shot put has attracted many athletes this year. We are hopeful to see a lot of upsets in the discipline,” women’s national record holder Elizabeth Olaba told Standard Sports.

Olaba’s national record in shot put (15.39m), set during the All Africa Games at Kasarani Stadium in 1987, is still intact.

The AK Nairobi branch chairman Barnaba Korir said Nyayo Stadium was chosen to host the two-day event due to its fine tartan track.

“The competition was initially meant to be a one-day event, but we realised it is important to have it for two days so that athletes competing in long distances can have a chance to ru n in the finals,” Korir said.

Korir believes the weekend meet will help the athletes test their might.

Most were locked out of major competitions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among the global championships the contestants are looking forward to qualify for include the World Championships in Oregon, US ( July 15-24,2022), Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Britain (August 2-7,2022), Africa Senior Athletics Championships in Reduit, Mauritius ( June 8-12, 2022) and the World Indoors Championships in Belgrade, Serbia (March 18-20, 2022).

“The athletes will use the AK weekend meets to step up training for the international events.
“Some of them have gone to Europe where they will compete this weekend to earn qualification for the World Indoors.