Moscow report card:Athletics Kenya should make improvements on team preparations

BY JONATHAN KOMEN

Athletics Kenya should make improvements on team preparations ahead of major championships in order to boost performance.

Poor preparations have in the past conspired to ruin performances of otherwise strong teams.

It is featuring in proposals made after an audit of the 14th IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia, where Kenya finished fourth.

The report prepared by team manager Benjamin Njoga, says AK needs an overhaul on its preparations to major championships.

“AK needs to have a policy guideline on training partners (pace-setters) because it was a delicate issue during residential training. They should ensure availability of serviceable vehicles to facilitate training and other local errands,” the report indicated.

 There was no standby transport to facilitate the team training and co-ordination of related activities, while the team was at the residential training camp at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.

There is blame game on the poor shows in men’s 4x400m relays after coach Elkanah Nyang’au was dropped mid-stream when the residential training had commenced.

“The officials named during national trials should not be changed as it affects team morale. Sprint coach Nyang’au was dropped from team five days after the camp commenced.”

It proposed a closer evaluation by experts on the idea of marathoners remaining behind and to establish its value addition on team performance. It suggested that training camps for marathoners should be near for close supervision by managers and coaches.

Kenya’s men’s team in Moscow failed to finish in top five places won by rUganda’s Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich and Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa in scond position.

But the report did not mention AK squabbles in Moscow, where some officials snubbed the final day after they received letters declaring their offices occupied by new employees at Riadha House.

 non-travelling coaches

 The report asked AK to regulate athletes’ participation on the IAAF Diamond League ahead of global championships to guard them against burn out.

 The reported further directed blame on the lack of policy guideline on the amount of money AK can subsidise on the renewal of passports or acquisition of new ones.

“Passports are available at varied costs depending on the number of pages and athletes seeking renewal or even first issues need to be informed in advance of the standard rule in terms of what AK pays or can subsidise,” said the report.

It says AK should include more non-travelling coaches to monitor training effectively at the residential camps. “The selected coaches should be at least six (travelling), with sprints (one), middle distance (two), long distance (two) and marathon (one).