IT’S TIME TO RUN: Athletics begin with 3,000m SC, 5,000m to whet Kenya’s medal appetite

Sylvia Chesebe representing Kenya Prisons outsprints Lydiah Wafula to win 800m women semi-final heat two during the Athletics Kenya National Championship at Nyayo Stadium on 06-06-2014.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

For athletics purists, the Games are just about to begin. So everybody should pack their paraphernalia and troop to the Concorde Complex, the epicentre of the Games competition, ready to witness fierce athletics competition from today evening.

With most Kenyans having completed or about to end their competitions, athletics will henceforth take the centre stage at the Games that are not regarded by most elite athletes as important. However, there is an assortment of well-known runners in the team like Olympic bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa, Jackson Kivuva, Timothy Kiptum and flamboyant sprinter Millicent Ndoro.

Majority of them were ‘left-overs’ from the main team that conquered the world at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing. But they are still capable of shaking the order here in Brazzaville, despite finishing fourth, fifth and sixth during the trials at Kasarani.

Two finals are lined on the first day of athletics competition; 3,000m steeplechase at 7.10pm and women’s 5,000m an hour later.

Hilary Kemboi, Clement Kemboi and Abel Mutai will line up in the steeplechase, while Margaret Chelimo, Alice Aprot and Margaret Wanjiru are set for the 5,000m race.

Tony Chirchir, Gilbert Otieno and Mark Otieno will be in the starting line for the 100m semis, while Ndoro, Eunice Kedogo and Frescia Wangare will do battle in the women’s semifinals.

The two-day decathlon event will also start on Sunday. William Mbevi and Kiprono Kosgei are entered for the 110m hurdles first round, while Maureen Nyatichi, Hellen Syombua and Boniface Mweresa and Raymond Kibet and Alex Sampao will do battle in 400m.

Another first round battle will be in the 800m with well-known athletes, Jackson Kivuva, Job Kinyor and Timothy Kiptum favourites for the men’s race and Sylvia Chesebe, Annett Mwanzi Winnie Chebet will do battle in the women’s category.